ravine
[ ruh-veen ]
/ rəˈvin /
noun
a narrow steep-sided valley commonly eroded by running water.
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Nearby words
Origin of ravine
Related formsra·vine·y, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for ravine
British Dictionary definitions for ravine
ravine
/ (rəˈviːn) /
noun
a deep narrow steep-sided valley, esp one formed by the action of running water
Word Origin for ravine
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
ravine
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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper