ravine
[ruh-veen]
- a narrow steep-sided valley commonly eroded by running water.
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Origin of ravine
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for ravine
Contemporary Examples
Whose fault was it anyways that truck three got stuck in the ravine?
The remains of her body were found in a ravine almost a year later.
The bones told a different story: she was executed along with five or six men in a ravine near Vlasenica.
Hasan says he's heard the ravine was used as a garbage dump by the locals for years; few remains have survived.
The ravine inhibits the engines from tearing away, and within seconds smoke appears.
Historical Examples
Andrew walked squarely out into the middle of the ravine and waited.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
He mastered it, and galloped with a heavy heart up the ravine and to the house of Pop.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
Taking his horse, he and Andrew rode at a walk up the ravine.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
Without waiting to plan, I began to climb down the steep side of the ravine.
The Trail BookMary Austin
We left our ponies in the ravine and wriggled through the long grass.
The Trail BookMary Austin
ravine
- a deep narrow steep-sided valley, esp one formed by the action of running water
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Word Origin
C15: from Old French: torrent, from Latin rapīna robbery, influenced by Latin rapidus rapid, both from rapere to snatch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for ravine
n.
1760, "deep gorge," from French ravin "a gully" (1680s, from Old French raviner "to pillage, sweep down, cascade"), and from French ravine "violent rush of water, gully worn by a torrent," from Old French ravine "violent rush of water, waterfall; avalanche; robbery, rapine," both ultimately from Latin rapina "act of robbery, plundering" (see rapine); sense influenced by Latin rapidus "rapid." Middle English ravine meant "booty, plunder, robbery" from c.1350-1500. Cf. ravening.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper