versant

American  

[vur-suhnt] / ˈvɜr sənt /

noun

1. a slope of a mountain or mountain chain.

2. the general slope of a country or region.

---

versant British  

/ ˈvɜːsənt /

noun

1. rare the side or slope of a mountain or mountain range

2. the slope of a region

---

Etymology

Origin of versant

1850–55; < French, noun use of present participle of verser to turn < Latin versāre, frequentative of vertere to turn; see verse, -ant

Example Sentences

A gadget lover, Alexander is known to roll up his sleeves to become versant with the latest security technologies.

From Reuters • May 26, 2013

He was well versant in military affairs and took great delight in war, of which he endured the labours and privations with much patient fortitude.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels - Volume 05 Arranged in Systematic Order: Forming a Complete History of the Origin and Progress of Navigation, Discovery, and Commerce, by Sea and Land, from the Earliest Ages to the Present Time by Kerr, Robert

In the south-western versant the largest river is the Kapuas, which, rising near the centre of the island, falls into the sea between Mampawa and Sukadana after a long and winding course.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various

The one great river of the eastern versant is the Kutei or Mahakan, which, rising in the central mountains, flows east with a sinuous course and falls by numerous mounts into the Straits of Madassar.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various

The Golfo Dulce region and the Caribbean versant are humid and inhabited by Hyla elaeochroa.

From The Systematics of the Frogs of the Hyla Rubra Group in Middle America by león, Juan R.