crevasse

[ kruh-vas ]

noun

1. a fissure, or deep cleft, in glacial ice, the earth's surface, etc.
2. a breach in an embankment or levee.

verb (used with object)

, cre·vassed, cre·vas·sing.

1. to fissure with crevasses.

crevasse

/ krɪˈvæs /

noun

1. a deep crack or fissure, esp in the ice of a glacier
2. a break in a river embankment

verb

1. tr to make a break or fissure in (a dyke, wall, etc)

crevasse

/ krĭ-văs′ /

1. A deep fissure in a glacier or other body of ice. Crevasses are usually caused by differential movement of parts of the ice over an uneven topography.
2. A large, deep fissure in the Earth caused by an earthquake.
3. A wide crack or breach in the bank of a river. Crevasses usually form during floods.
4. ◆ The sediments that spill out through the crevasse and fan out along the external margin of the river's bank form a crevasse splay deposit.

Other Words From

• un·cre·vassed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crevasse¹

1805–15, Americanism; < French; crevice

Word History and Origins

Origin of crevasse¹

C19: from French: crevice

Example Sentences

Ondrej Huserka fell into a crevasse on Thursday, after he and his climbing partner ascended the Lantang Lirung mountain in the Himalayas – the 99th-highest peak in the world.

From BBC

While repelling a mountain wall, Mr Huserka’s thread cracked and he fell into an ice crevasse, he partner said.

From BBC

To Byatt, maternal mental health is not a gap but a crevasse.

From Salon

Tom Jacobson’s new plays ‘The Bauhaus Project’ and ‘Crevasse’ are thrilling in the scope of their ambition.

From Los Angeles Times

“Crevasse,” the better of the two plays, now having its world premiere at the Victory Theatre Center, revolves around German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, who became a darling of Hitler’s and one of his most prominent enablers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abyss
• chasm
• fissure