Dictionary
es•carp•ment
Pronunciation: (i-skärp'munt), [key]—
n.
1. Geol.a long, precipitous, clifflike ridge of land, rock, or the like, commonly formed by faulting or fracturing of the earth's crust. Cf.
scarp1 (def. 1).
2. ground cut into an escarp around a fortification or defensive position.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.