noun
moraine
muh-RAYN
Moraine (noun) means a mass of rocks and debris carried and left behind by a glacier. Example: “The lake lies behind a ridge of moraine left by the ice.”
noun
1
technical A mass of rocks and debris carried and left behind by a glacier.
"The lake lies behind a ridge of moraine left by the ice."
"Walkers followed a path along the edge of the moraine."
"Geologists mapped the moraine to see how far the glacier had once reached."
How to use moraine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pile of rock and rubble left behind by a glacier.
When to use it
It is mainly used in geology and physical geography.
Memory tip
Moraines are the material itself, so you can say a glacier deposits a moraine.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
glacial moraine
end moraine
ridge of moraine
moraine lake
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The lake lies behind a ridge of _____ left by the ice.
Etymology
English took the word from French moraine, which came from Savoyard Italian morena. That word goes back to Franco-Provençal words meaning muzzle or snout.
Rhymes for moraine
See all rhymes for moraine →Frequently asked questions
What is a moraine?
A moraine is an accumulation of rocks and debris carried and deposited by a glacier.
How is moraine pronounced?
It is pronounced muh-RAYN, with the stress on the second syllable.
What is a moraine made of?
It is made of rocks and other debris that a glacier has carried and dropped.
What is the meaning of moraine?
"moraine" (noun) means a mass of rocks and debris carried and left behind by a glacier.
