cirque
UK[sɜːk]US[sɜːrk]
n
a steep-walled, bowl-shaped hollow on a mountain, typically at the head of a valley, formed by glacial erosion.
n
a ring or circle.
Etymology
the word 'cirque' entered english from french in the late 17th century, specifically in the context of physical geography. its lineage traces back to latin 'circus', denoting a circular arena or a ring, a term famously associated with the circus maximus in ancient rome. this latin word itself is a borrowing from the greek 'krikos', meaning a ring or circle. the semantic evolution is direct and logical: from the general concept of a circular shape, the term was applied in geology to describe the distinctive, rounded, amphitheater-like landforms carved by glaciers, which resemble a natural bowl or ring in the mountainside.
Analysis
the entire word 'cirque' is a simplex morpheme borrowed from french. it originates from latin 'circus', meaning 'ring' or 'circle', which in turn derives from greek 'kirkos', a variant of 'krikos', also meaning 'ring'.
Examples
the hikers rested at the base of the dramatic cirque, surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs.
glacial activity during the last ice age formed this impressive cirque.
from the air, the geological cirque looked like a giant, scooped-out bowl in the mountain range.