Massif Meaning
/mæˈsiːf/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA principal mountain mass.
nounA block of the earth's crust bounded by faults or flexures and displaced as a unit without internal change; normally consists of gneisses and schists.
Sentence Examples
The rocky massif located around the Iset River also served as a natural fortification.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The experienced climbers aimed to conquer the towering ____, a huge block of mountains.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The Himalayan ____ contains some of the highest and most difficult peaks in the entire world.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from French massif, from Middle French massif, ultimately from Latin massa, from Ancient Greek μᾶζα (mâza, “barley-cake, lump (of dough)”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"This is itself a cheerless spot, particularly on a rainy day, when, overshadowed by the great massif of rock that towers in the background, and surrounded by the grey and cheerless quarries, it has a depressing character much in contrast with the green verdure encountered on the northern end of this interesting branch line."
— 1954 August, H. M. Madgwick, “The Blaenau Festiniog Tunnel”, in Railway Magazine, page 569:
"The southern borders of these states are keyed to the same horizontal projection, one surveyed by the frontier planter William Byrd in 1728, while the rivers forming their northern extents fall back just opposite each other from the flanks of the Appalachian massif."
— 2011, John Jeremiah Sullivan, Pulphead:
"Some deposits of iron ore are scattered along the edges of the massif in south - central France."
— 1921, Max Roesler, The Iron-ore Resources of Europe, page 68:
"The southern portion of the zone from the Maritime Alps to the Pelvoux massif is complicated by the movements which have accompanied the formation of the mountains of Provence."
— 1891, Carl Diener, “Reviews and Notices”, in The Alpine Journal, volume 15, page 564:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The experienced climbers aimed to conquer the towering ____, a huge block of mountains.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The Himalayan ____ contains some of the highest and most difficult peaks in the entire world.