noun
massif
ma-SEEF
Massif (noun) means a large, compact mass of mountains forming the main part of a range. Example: “The village lies at the foot of a great granite massif.”
noun
1
A large, compact mass of mountains forming the main part of a range.
"The village lies at the foot of a great granite massif."
"Walkers spent three days crossing the massif."
"Cloud hid the summit of the massif all morning."
2
technical In geology, a block of the earth's crust bounded by faults and moved as a single unit.
"The geologist mapped the faults around the massif."
"A massif can be made up of hard, ancient rock."
"The study described how the massif had shifted as one block."
How to use massif
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big, solid block of mountains.
When to use it
It is fairly formal and is used mostly in geography and geology writing.
Memory tip
Spell it with a final f, not with -ive, which belongs to massive.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
granite massif
mountain massif
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The village lies at the foot of a great granite _____.
Etymology
English borrowed the word from French massif, which came from Middle French and ultimately from Latin massa. The Latin word goes back to an Ancient Greek word for a lump of dough or barley-cake.
Frequently asked questions
What is a massif?
A massif is a large mass of mountains that forms the main part of a range.
How do you pronounce massif?
It is usually said ma-SEEF, with the stress on the second syllable, though some speakers stress the first syllable: MAS-if.
What is the plural of massif?
The plural is massifs.
What is the meaning of massif?
"massif" (noun) means a large, compact mass of mountains forming the main part of a range.
