doline: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “doline” mean?
A geological depression or sinkhole, typically funnel-shaped, formed by the dissolution of limestone or other soluble rock.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A geological depression or sinkhole, typically funnel-shaped, formed by the dissolution of limestone or other soluble rock.
More broadly, any enclosed depression or hollow in a karst landscape. The term can also be used metaphorically to describe a similar shape or a place of collapse or subsidence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant dialectal difference in meaning. The term 'sinkhole' is more common in everyday American English, while 'doline' (from Slovene via French) is the standard international scientific term.
Connotations
Neutral and purely descriptive in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Used with equal rarity but consistent meaning in British and American academic/technical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “doline” in a Sentence
The [geological process] formed a doline.A doline [verb: developed, appeared, collapsed] in the [location].The landscape is characterised by [number] dolines.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doline” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The doline topography was mapped in detail.
American English
- Doline formation is a key process in karst regions.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Primary context. Used in geology, geography, and environmental science papers to describe karst features.
Everyday
Virtually never used. 'Sinkhole' is the common term.
Technical
The standard term in speleology, hydrogeology, and geomorphology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “doline”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “doline”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doline”
- Misspelling as 'dolene' or 'dolines'.
- Using it as a general term for any hole in the ground.
- Mispronouncing the stress as on the first syllable (/ˈdəʊlaɪn/). Correct stress is on the second syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern technical usage, 'doline' is the standard scientific term for what is commonly called a sinkhole. 'Sinkhole' is more general and can include human-induced collapses, while 'doline' strictly refers to natural, dissolution-related features in karst.
It comes from Slovene 'dolina', meaning 'valley', via French. It entered English in the late 19th century as a geological term.
It would be very unusual. The word 'sinkhole' is universally understood, while 'doline' is a specialist term. Using it outside a technical context might confuse listeners.
They can be. They represent areas of subsidence and collapse, which can damage infrastructure. They also act as direct conduits for surface pollution to enter groundwater, making them an environmental concern.
A geological depression or sinkhole, typically funnel-shaped, formed by the dissolution of limestone or other soluble rock.
Doline is usually technical/scientific in register.
Doline: in British English it is pronounced /dəʊˈliːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /doʊˈlin/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a hole in the ground where a LINE of earth has DOwn-LOaded (dissolved) away: DO-LINE.
Conceptual Metaphor
EARTH IS A SPONGE (it absorbs water and can develop holes); LANDSCAPE IS A BODY (with wounds or depressions).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'doline' most specifically?