valley

American  

[val-ee] / ˈvæl i /

noun

plural

valleys

1. an elongated depression between uplands, hills, or mountains, especially one following the course of a stream.

2. an extensive, more or less flat, and relatively low region drained by a great river system.

3. any depression or hollow resembling a valley.

4. a low point or interval in any process, representation, or situation.

5. any place, period, or situation that is filled with fear, gloom, foreboding, or the like.

   the valley of despair.

6. Architecture. a depression or angle formed by the meeting of two inclined sides of a roof.

7. the lower phase of a horizontal wave motion.

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valley British  

/ ˈvælɪ /

noun

1. a long depression in the land surface, usually containing a river, formed by erosion or by movements in the earth's crust

2. the broad area drained by a single river system

   the Thames valley

3. any elongated depression resembling a valley

4. the junction of a roof slope with another or with a wall

5. (modifier) relating to or proceeding by way of a valley

   a valley railway

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valley Scientific  

/ văl′ē /

1. A long, narrow region of low land between ranges of mountains, hills, or other high areas, often having a river or stream running along the bottom. Valleys are most commonly formed through the erosion of land by rivers or glaciers. They also form where large regions of land are lowered because of geological faults.

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Other Word Forms

• intervalley noun
• valleylike adjective

Etymology

Origin of valley

1250–1300; Middle English valeie, valey < Old French valee, equivalent to val vale ( def. ) + -ee < Latin -āta, feminine of -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Across the valley, we watch Israeli soldiers park their military jeep and head out on patrol.

From BBC

“Just last night our counterterrorism teams were out and are still out working on an event that occurred here in our valley, and I’ll obviously be talking about that later,” he told the audience.

From Los Angeles Times

Low lying river valleys and areas on chalk aquifers - such as the Salisbury Plains - are most prone to groundwater flooding.

From BBC

Friday is expected to be dry but cold, with the possibility of some morning frost in the valleys as temperatures remain chilly.

From Los Angeles Times

By the end of the week, forecasters predict totals as high as 4 inches in coastal and valley areas and up to 8 inches in the mountains and foothills.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• basin
• canyon
• gorge
• lowland
• plain