peneplain

or pe·ne·plane

[ pee-nuh-pleyn, pee-nuh-pleyn ]

noun

, Geology.

1. an area reduced almost to a plain by erosion.

peneplain

/ ˈpiːnɪˌpleɪn; ˌpiːnɪˈpleɪn /

noun

1. a relatively flat land surface produced by a long period of erosion

Derived Forms

• ˌpeneplaˈnation, noun

Other Words From

• pe·ne·pla·na·tion [pee-n, uh, -pl, uh, -, ney, -sh, uh, n], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of peneplain¹

First recorded in 1885–90; pene- + plain ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of peneplain¹

C19: from pene- + plain ¹

Example Sentences

This cycle had not been completed, that is, the work of base-leveling had not been altogether accomplished, when the peneplain was elevated, and the cycle, though still incomplete, brought to a close.

From Project Gutenberg

The suggestion has been offered that the northern portion of the Coast Range is a dissected peneplain.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand, the northwest-southeast drainage lines across the strike of formations, coincide with the slope toward the sea of the uplifted peneplain whose dissected surface is represented by the crests of the uplands.

From Project Gutenberg

This surface, or “peneplain,” was probably the result of denudation working away the beds almost to sea-level.

From Project Gutenberg

The final result is the reduction of the land surface to an approximate plain, called a peneplain, somewhere near sea level.

From Project Gutenberg