cirque(corrie, cwm) A half-open, steep-sided hollow in a mountain region that has been, or is being, glaciated. Its form is due to a combination of glacial scouring (which deepens the floor and often produces a reversed long-profile gradient), and glacial erosion by basal sapping and frost wedging (which acts on the cirque's head and side walls).

cirque (corrie, cwm) Half-open, steep-sided hollow in a mountain region that has been or is being glaciated. Its form is due to a combination of glacial scouring (which deepens the floor and often produces a reversed long-profile gradient), and glacial erosion by basal sapping and gelifraction (which acts on the cirque's head and side walls).

cirque (corrie, cwm) Bowl-shaped, steep-sided hollow in a mountainous region formed by glaciation. A hollow is scoured out of the rock by ice and freeze-thaw activity. When the ice melts, a lake may form at the base of the cirque. Such lakes are often fed by the retreating glacier.

cirque circus XVII; (poet.) circle, ring XVII; natural amphitheatre XIX. — F. — L. circus.