butte
Pronunciation
Noun
B1 Intermediate
Quick answer
An isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top, smaller than a mesa.
Usage notes
A butte is essentially a smaller, narrower version of a mesa, formed by the same kind of erosion.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "A lone _____ rose from the flat desert floor."
Answer: butte
In your own words, what does "butte" mean?
An isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top, smaller than a mesa.
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