mesa

noun

me·​sa ˈmā-sə 

: an isolated relatively flat-topped natural elevation usually more extensive than a butte and less extensive than a plateau

also : a broad terrace with an abrupt slope on one side : bench

Synonyms

• altiplano
• plateau
• table
• tableland

Examples of mesa in a Sentence

a mesa in the Arizona desert

Recent Examples on the Web

In The Black Sea Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Wednesday, March 26th Ransom Canyon (April 17 with 10 Episodes) Ransom Canyon is a place where love, loss, and loyalty collide beneath the crimson mesas of Texas Hill Country. —Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Swerve past arid mesa tops and cow pastures all the way to your destination. —Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 28 Feb. 2025

Phil’s World, a trail system on a desert mesa, is excellent for beginner to intermediate riders. —Jennifer Broome, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2025

On one side are the winding Snake River and a sloping mesa. —Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, literally, table, from Latin mensa

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mesa

noun

me·​sa ˈmā-sə 

: a flat-topped hill or small plateau with steep sides

Etymology

Spanish, literally, "table"

Geographical Definition

Mesa

geographical name

Me·​sa ˈmā-sə 

city east of Phoenix in southwest central Arizona population 439,041