noun
Mensa
MEHN-suh
Mensa (noun) means In geology, a flat-topped, steep-sided landform, especially one seen on Mars and other planets — larger than a butte but similar in shape. Example: “The orbiter photographed a striking mensa rising from the Martian plain.”
noun
1
In geology, a flat-topped, steep-sided landform, especially one seen on Mars and other planets — larger than a butte but similar in shape.
"The orbiter photographed a striking mensa rising from the Martian plain."
"Geologists compared the mensa's layered rock to sedimentary formations on Earth."
2
The flat top surface of an altar.
"Candles were arranged along the mensa of the old stone altar."
How to use Mensa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flat, table-shaped raised surface — either the top of an altar or a plateau-like landform, most often used talking about Mars.
Common pairings
a mensa on Mars
the mensa of the altar
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Word forms
- Plural
- mensae, mensas
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The orbiter photographed a striking _____ rising from the Martian plain.
Etymology
From Latin mensa, meaning "table" — the same word used for the flat table-like altar top and, by extension, for flat-topped landforms.
Frequently asked questions
What does “Mensa” mean?
The word “Mensa” means in geology, a flat-topped, steep-sided landform, especially one seen on Mars and other planets — larger than a butte but similar in shape. In plain terms, a flat, table-shaped raised surface — either the top of an altar or a plateau-like landform, most often used talking about Mars.
How do you pronounce “Mensa”?
“Mensa” is pronounced MEHN-suh (/ˈmɛnsə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Mensa” in a sentence?
Here is “Mensa” used in a sentence: “The orbiter photographed a striking mensa rising from the Martian plain.”
What part of speech is “Mensa”?
“Mensa” is a noun.
Where does the word “Mensa” come from?
The word “Mensa” comes from Latin. From Latin mensa, meaning "table" — the same word used for the flat table-like altar top and, by extension, for flat-topped landforms.
How many meanings does “Mensa” have?
“Mensa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in geology, a flat-topped, steep-sided landform, especially one seen on Mars and other planets — larger than a butte but similar in shape.
