Definition

1. Noun:
   • A rock and adobe dwelling built on sheltered ledges in the sides of a cliff: A "cliff dwelling" is a type of residential structure constructed by ancient peoples, using natural rock formations and man-made materials like adobe (sun-dried brick), on protected ledges or alcoves within cliff faces.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The Anasazi built impressive cliff dwellings in the southwestern United States.
  • Archaeologists study the architecture of the cliff dwelling to understand the culture of its inhabitants.
  • Mesa Verde National Park is famous for its well-preserved cliff dwellings.

Advanced Usage

• As a historical/archaeological term: The term is used specifically in archaeology and history to describe a distinct type of ancient architecture, often associated with specific cultures like the Ancestral Puebloans (Anasazi) in North America.
  • The conservation of the ancient cliff dwelling is a priority for the park service.

Variants and Related Words

• Cliff-dweller (noun): A person who inhabits or historically inhabited a cliff dwelling.
  • The cliff-dwellers of the region were skilled farmers and artisans.

Synonyms

• Rock shelter: A natural cave or overhang used for shelter, which may be modified into a dwelling. (Note: A "rock shelter" is often more natural, while a "cliff dwelling" implies more substantial construction.)
• Pueblo: A communal dwelling structure of the Southwest U.S., which can be built on mesas or within cliffs. (Note: "Pueblo" is a broader term; a cliff dwelling is a specific type of pueblo built into a cliff.)

Related Phrases

• Cliff palace: A specific, large cliff dwelling complex, such as the one at Mesa Verde.
  • Cliff Palace is the largest cliff dwelling in North America.

Noun

1. a rock and adobe dwelling built on sheltered ledges in the sides of a cliff
   • the Anasazi built cliff dwellings in the southwestern United States