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corrie

corrie

1 9.9
A steep hollow on a mountainside that often holds a small lake
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔːri/
  • UK
translation icon : circo
  • The hikers paused to admire the stunning view of the corrie, where a small lake glimmered amid the rocky walls.

Examples

  • Fields and farmlands were washed in fitful sunlight, but the air was so clear that every crag and corrie on the distant hills presented itself with startling visibility.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • After climbing for hours, they finally reached the top of the corrie, offering a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding mountains.

  • As the sun set, the shadows deepened in the corrie, making the glacial features more pronounced against the fading light.

Synonyms

cirque
vscorrie
  • Specialized
5 9.9

A steep bowl-shaped hollow on a mountain that often has a small lake

is the same glacial semicircular mountain hollow as the key concept
cwm
vscorrie
  • UK
1 9.9

A steep, bowl-shaped hollow in a mountain often holding a small lake

is the same glacial semicircular mountain hollow as the key concept
coomb
vscorrie
  • UK
9.9

A small deep valley with steep sides

is the glacially carved semicircular mountain hollow rather than a general valley

How Big

depression
  • Specialized
11 5.3
corrie
  • UK
1 9.9
hollow
44 3.9

Surface Forms

corrie singular
corries plural

Etymology

Corrie comes from the Scottish Gaelic coire, which means 'cauldron' or 'bowl'. A corrie is like a big bowl cut into a mountain, so the old word helps you remember why it is a hollow that often holds a small lake.