Rocky Mountains

[ rok-ee moun-tnz ]

plural noun

1. the chief mountain system in North America, extending from central New Mexico to northern Alaska. Highest peak, Denali, 20,300 feet (6,187 meters).

Rocky Mountains

plural noun

1. the chief mountain system of W North America, extending from British Columbia to New Mexico: forms the Continental Divide. Highest peak: Mount Elbert, 4399 m (14 431 ft). Mount McKinley (6194 m (20 320 ft)), in the Alaska Range, is not strictly part of the Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountains

1. Major mountain chain of western North America , running from Alaska to Mexico .

Word History and Origins

Origin of Rocky Mountains¹

First recorded in 1800–05; translation of Canadian French les Montagnes des Roches, from Cree asini˙waciya, plural of asini˙waciy, equivalent to asini˙-, combining form of asiniy “stone, rock” + waciy “mountain,” originally referring to the Canadian Rockies

Example Sentences

Gottschalck and other federal officials presented NOAA’s seasonal outlook Thursday, saying they expect expanding drought conditions in the central Rocky Mountains and the Colorado River watershed, a major water source for Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times

Overall at least 125 locations from the Rocky Mountains to the West Coast have broken temperature records since the start of the month.

From Salon

She has also set records in the Tour Divide, a gruelling race traversing the American continental divide along the Rocky Mountains.

From BBC

California will be spared the worst of the heat, the weather service predicted, as the system concentrates over the Rocky Mountains.

From Los Angeles Times

Wiener’s book, which notes the box appears only west of the Rocky Mountains, calls it a “cult favorite.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sierra