playa

[ plahy-uh ]

noun

1. Western U.S. the sandy, salty, or mud-caked flat floor of a desert basin having interior drainage, usually occupied by a shallow lake during or after prolonged, heavy rains.

playa

/ ˈplɑːjə; ˈplaja /

noun

1. (in the US) a temporary lake, or its dry often salty bed, in a desert basin

playa

/ plī′ə /

1. A dry lake bed at the bottom of a desert basin, sometimes temporarily covered with water. Playas have no vegetation and are among the flattest geographical features in the world.
2. Also called sink

Word History and Origins

Origin of playa¹

1850–55, Americanism; < Spanish: shore < Late Latin plagia; plage

Word History and Origins

Origin of playa¹

Spanish: shore, from Late Latin plagia, from Greek plagios slanting, from plagos side; compare French plage beach

Example Sentences

Gold said another key question is how the city’s project at the Hyperion plant in Playa Del Rey will fit with the Metropolitan Water District’s separate plan for another recycling facility in Carson, called Pure Water Southern California.

From Los Angeles Times

The Playa Vista actor known for her work on “Gossip Girl” as the character Sawyer Bennett and “Blue Bloods” as Maria Romano was reported missing on Nov. 8 by her family, according to the LAPD.

From Los Angeles Times

In October, Los Angeles Jewish Health, a senior healthcare nonprofit, sold a senior living complex in Playa Vista for $81 million.

From Los Angeles Times

Plaintiffs’ expert witnesses Steve Soboroff and Randy Johnson, the developers of Playa Vista, worked with VA officials to select a modular vendor, and a purchase agreement for the first units was set to be closed Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times

This week, residents in Venice, Santa Monica, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey and Playa Vista have been pinching their noses at the unpleasant oceanic odor.

From Los Angeles Times