cordilleras: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical (Geography/Geology)
Quick answer
What does “cordilleras” mean?
A long, extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges, especially the principal mountain system of a continent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges, especially the principal mountain system of a continent.
In a broader geographical sense, any series of parallel mountain ranges together with their intervening plateaus and basins. The term is also used in geology to describe a group of mountain ranges formed during the same orogenic period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is used identically in both varieties, though it may appear more frequently in American English due to the prominence of the North and South American Cordilleras.
Connotations
Connotes grandeur, extensive geological history, and significant geographical barriers. Neutral in tone.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech. Higher frequency in academic geography, geology, and historical contexts (e.g., Spanish colonial history).
Grammar
How to Use “cordilleras” in a Sentence
The [Adjective] cordilleras of [Place]...Cordilleras such as the [Name]...to cross/traverse the cordillerasVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cordilleras” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No standard verb form]
American English
- [No standard verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverb form]
American English
- [No standard adverb form]
adjective
British English
- The Cordilleran region is seismically active.
- They studied Cordilleran geology.
American English
- Cordilleran ice sheets once covered much of the northwest.
- The Cordilleran orogeny was a major event.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in contexts like mining, tourism, or infrastructure projects: 'The mining venture faced logistical challenges crossing the remote cordilleras.'
Academic
Common in geography, geology, and environmental science: 'The study focused on the glacial retreat across the northern cordilleras.'
Everyday
Very rare. Would be replaced by 'mountain ranges' or specific names like 'the Andes'.
Technical
Standard term in physical geography and tectonics to describe continental-scale mountain systems formed by plate convergence.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cordilleras”
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'a beautiful cordilleras'). Correct: 'a beautiful cordillera' or 'beautiful cordilleras'.
- Using it for a single, isolated mountain or a small local range, which underestimates its scale.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term used primarily in academic geography, geology, and formal writing. In everyday conversation, people use 'mountain ranges' or specific names like 'the Alps'.
A 'mountain range' is a single, linear series of mountains. A 'cordillera' (plural: cordilleras) is a larger system comprising several more or less parallel mountain ranges. Think of a cordillera as a 'mountain range of mountain ranges' on a continental scale.
It comes from Spanish, derived from 'cordilla', a diminutive of 'cuerda' (meaning 'rope' or 'cord'), metaphorically referring to a long, chain-like formation.
Yes, the most famous are the American Cordilleras, which include the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Madre, and the Andes. The Alps are not typically called a cordillera, as they are a single, more compact system.
A long, extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges, especially the principal mountain system of a continent.
Cordilleras is usually formal, academic, technical (geography/geology) in register.
Cordilleras: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːdɪˈljɛərəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːrdəlˈjɛrəz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specifically for 'cordilleras']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a long, knotted CORD (cord-) that ILLuminates (ill-) the EARth's (era) surface. This 'CORD-ILL-EAR' is a massive chain of mountains on the earth.
Conceptual Metaphor
CORDILLERAS ARE A BACKBONE (The cordilleras form the backbone of the continent, providing structural support and defining its shape.)
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate definition of 'cordilleras'?