cirque

noun

1
archaic : circus
2
3
: a deep steep-walled basin on a mountain usually forming the blunt end of a valley

Illustration of cirque

Illustration of cirque
  • cirque 3

Examples of cirque in a Sentence

the harvest moon was a glowing cirque in autumn sky
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of the three backcountry ponds, Upper Blue Lake is the most scenic, with a granite cirque forming the pool’s backdrop. Outside Online, 9 Aug. 2024 Big Sky is famous for its size, its extreme terrain, and its long, steep cirques high above the tree line. Nick Bowlin, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024 In its early years, it was located smack in the middle of the grounds, a beaconing festival-goers with beats, cirque performances and the all-important misters. Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024 Based on Sara Green’s 2006 bestseller, the show premiered last year at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre and elevates the musical to new and literal heights with its seamless integration of theatrical and cirque artistry. Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cirque 

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin circus

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cirque was in 1601

Dictionary Entries Near cirque

Cite this Entry

“Cirque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cirque. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

cirque

noun
: a deep basin on a mountain that is shaped like half a bowl
Etymology

French, from Latin circus "circle, arena"

More from Merriam-Webster on cirque

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