peneplain

or pe·ne·plane

[ pee-nuh-pleyn, pee-nuh-pleyn ]

noun

, Geology.

1. an area reduced almost to a plain by erosion.

peneplain

/ ˌpiːnɪˈpleɪn; ˈpiːnɪˌpleɪn /

noun

1. a relatively flat land surface produced by a long period of erosion

Derived Forms

• ˌpeneplaˈnation, noun

Other Words From

• pe·ne·pla·na·tion [pee-n, uh, -pl, uh, -, ney, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of peneplain¹

First recorded in 1885–90; pene- + plain ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of peneplain¹

C19: from pene- + plain ¹

Example Sentences

The bottoms of the broad depressions represent the Shenandoah peneplain, which is sharply trenched by the modern river channels.

From Project Gutenberg

This peneplain was later upraised into a plateau and its downward inclination towards the east increased.

From Project Gutenberg

The suggestion has been offered that the northern portion of the Coast Range is a dissected peneplain.

From Project Gutenberg

In other words, the western slope is a tilted peneplain, bearing on its surface remnants of older uplands.

From Project Gutenberg

Immense regional intrusions, the cores of once lofty mountain ranges, are found upon the Laurentian peneplain.

From Project Gutenberg