Mesa

/'meisə/
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Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A city in Arizona, USA: A city located just east of Phoenix, originally developed as a suburb.
    • A flat-topped hill or mountain with steep sides: A geological formation, also known as a tableland, characterized by a flat top and steep cliffs.
Examples
  • Noun (Geographical Feature):
    • The ancient pueblo was built on top of the mesa.
    • From the valley, the mesa looked like a giant table.
  • Noun (City):
    • They drove from Phoenix to Mesa for the concert.
    • Mesa is one of the largest cities in Arizona.
Advanced Usage
  • Geological Context: In geology, a "mesa" is an erosional remnant, often composed of resistant rock layers like sandstone or basalt, that is smaller than a plateau but larger than a butte.
    • The Colorado Plateau is famous for its many mesas and canyons.
Variants and Related Words
  • Butte (n): A similar isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top, but smaller than a mesa.
  • Plateau (n): A large, elevated area of relatively flat land, typically larger than a mesa.
  • Tableland (n): A broad, elevated region with a flat top; a general term that includes mesas and plateaus.
Synonyms
  • Table hill
  • Table mountain
  • Tableland
Related Phrases
  • Mesa top: Refers specifically to the flat summit of a mesa.
    • The mesa top offered a panoramic view of the desert.
  • Mesa verde: A Spanish phrase meaning "green table," often used as a proper name for specific locations (e.g., Mesa Verde National Park).
    • Mesa Verde National Park is known for its Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings.
Noun
  1. a city in Arizona just to the east of Phoenix; originally a suburb of Phoenix
  2. flat tableland with steep edges
    • the tribe was relatively safe on the mesa but they had to descend into the valley for water