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Glite Dictionary
🪐 Flat hills 🍽️ Tables (Latin)
mensae

mensae

1 9.9
Flat-topped steep-sided hills on Mars or other planets
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛnseɪ/
  • Specialized
: mensas
  • NASA's rover captured images of the mensae, revealing their steep sides and flat tops.

Examples

  • The scientists studied the unique features of the mensae on Mars to understand the planet's geological history.

  • Artistic fly-by view northwest to southeast from the Deuteronilus Mensae to the Cassini crater.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Geologists believe that the formation of mensae is due to volcanic activity on the surface of Mars.

Synonyms

mesa
vsmensae
13 7.2

A flat area of land with steep sides found in dry places

refers to the plural form used for such landforms in planetary geology
table
vsmensae
2 7.5

A flat, high area of land with steep sides

is the plural label used specifically in planetary geology rather than general use

Surface Forms

mensae singular
mensae plural

Etymology

Mensae comes from the Latin mensa 'table' and is used in geology for flat-topped, steep-sided landforms. Think of the English word mesa, which means a 'table' shaped hill; mensae are like 'tables' of rock on Mars and other planets.