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Glite Dictionary
caliche-topped

caliche-topped

9.9
Having a hard crust of soil that forms in dry places
  • adjective
  • /kəˈliːtʃiˌtɑːpt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : cubierto de caliche
  • Farmers struggle to grow crops on caliche-topped fields due to poor drainage.

Examples

  • A caliche-topped road can be especially rough after a rainstorm.

  • The trail winds over a caliche-topped ridge that gleams in the sunlight.

  • The caliche-topped hills are a common sight in the desert.

  • Many caliche-topped areas are unsuitable for agriculture.

  • The caliche-topped landscape stretches for miles in the dry desert region.

  • Driving over the caliche-topped trail can be quite jarring for the vehicle.

  • Wildflowers struggle to bloom in the caliche-topped soil where nutrients are scarce.

Synonyms

crusted
vscaliche-topped
1 4.2

Covered with a hard layer on the surface

refers to a specific mineral hardened layer formed by calcium carbonate in dry regions

Surface Forms

caliche-topped positive

Morphology

caliche-topped = caliche + topped (transparent) = caliche + top + ed

The adjective is a straightforward compound of 'caliche' and the past-participle 'topped' meaning 'having a top/covering of caliche'.

Etymology

Caliche-topped comes from the Spanish word caliche, which means a hard 'lime' or 'chalky crust' that forms in dry soil. It is related to English calcium, so a caliche-topped road or field is covered on top by a hard, lime-like layer that makes the ground very hard and poor for growing.