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noun Uncommon

mesa

MAY-suh

Mesa (noun) means a broad, flat-topped hill or plateau with steep sides, common in dry, desert landscapes. Example: “The hikers watched the sunset from the edge of the mesa.”

noun
1
A broad, flat-topped hill or plateau with steep sides, common in dry, desert landscapes.
"The hikers watched the sunset from the edge of the mesa."
"Red-rock mesas rise out of the desert across much of the American Southwest."

How to use mesa

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA big, flat-topped hill that looks like a table sticking up out of the land.

Common pairings
a flat mesa atop the mesa desert mesa

Word forms

mesas plural

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Fill the gap

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The hikers watched the sunset from the edge of the _____.

Etymology

From Spanish mesa ("table"), from Latin mensa — the same root as "mensa" in geology.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for mesa

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mesa” mean?

The word “mesa” means a broad, flat-topped hill or plateau with steep sides, common in dry, desert landscapes. In plain terms, a big, flat-topped hill that looks like a table sticking up out of the land.

How do you pronounce “mesa”?

“Mesa” is pronounced MAY-suh (/ˈmeɪ.sə/ in IPA).

How do you use “mesa” in a sentence?

Here is “mesa” used in a sentence: “The hikers watched the sunset from the edge of the mesa.”

What part of speech is “mesa”?

“Mesa” is a noun.

Where does the word “mesa” come from?

The word “mesa” comes from Latin. From Spanish mesa ("table"), from Latin mensa — the same root as "mensa" in geology.

Is “mesa” a common word?

“Mesa” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial