noun
anticline
AN-ti-klyne
Anticline (noun) means a fold in rock layers where the strata slope downwards on both sides, forming an upward arch. Example: “The anticline arched upward across the whole valley.”
noun
1
A fold in rock layers where the strata slope downwards on both sides, forming an upward arch.
"The anticline arched upward across the whole valley."
"Geologists mapped the anticline to trace the area's folding history."
"Millions of years of erosion had worn down the crest of the old anticline."
How to use anticline
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn anticline is an upward, arch-shaped fold in layers of rock.
When to use it
Anticline is a technical geology term, not used in everyday conversation.
Memory tip
The -cline part relates to sloping, as in incline or decline, so an anticline is essentially a slope folded upward.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
syncline
Common pairings
anticline and syncline
fold into an anticline
axis of the anticline
eroded anticline
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ arched upward across the whole valley.
Etymology
Anticline is formed within English from the prefix anti- combined with the suffix -cline, which relates to sloping.
Rhymes for anticline
See all rhymes for anticline →Frequently asked questions
What is an anticline in geology?
It is a fold in layers of rock where the strata slope downwards on each side, giving the structure an upward, arch-like shape.
What is the opposite of an anticline called?
A syncline is the related, contrasting type of fold identified alongside the anticline in geology.
Is anticline used outside geology?
No, it is a specialist term used specifically to describe this type of rock fold in geology.
What is the meaning of anticline?
"anticline" (noun) means a fold in rock layers where the strata slope downwards on both sides, forming an upward arch.
