noun
cirque
surk
Cirque (noun) means a bowl-shaped hollow carved into a mountainside by glacial erosion, usually at the head of a valley. Example: “Hikers stopped to admire the dramatic cirque carved by the ancient glacier.”
noun
1
A bowl-shaped hollow carved into a mountainside by glacial erosion, usually at the head of a valley.
"Hikers stopped to admire the dramatic cirque carved by the ancient glacier."
How to use cirque
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA geological term for a rounded, steep-walled basin left behind by a glacier.
When to use it
A specialised term used mainly in geography and geology.
Common pairings
glacial cirque
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Word forms
- Plural
- cirques
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Hikers stopped to admire the dramatic _____ carved by the ancient glacier.
Etymology
Borrowed from French cirque, from Latin circus ("circle, ring") — a doublet of the English word "circus".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for cirque
See all rhymes for cirque →Frequently asked questions
What does “cirque” mean?
The word “cirque” means a bowl-shaped hollow carved into a mountainside by glacial erosion, usually at the head of a valley. In plain terms, a geological term for a rounded, steep-walled basin left behind by a glacier.
How do you pronounce “cirque”?
“Cirque” is pronounced surk (/sɝk/ in IPA).
How do you use “cirque” in a sentence?
Here is “cirque” used in a sentence: “Hikers stopped to admire the dramatic cirque carved by the ancient glacier.”
What part of speech is “cirque”?
“Cirque” is a noun.
Where does the word “cirque” come from?
The word “cirque” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French cirque, from Latin circus ("circle, ring") — a doublet of the English word "circus".
