Word
embankment
Phoneticsem·bank·ment
US/ɛmˈbæŋkmənt/
UK/ɛmbˈæŋkmənt/
Definition
n. a thick wall of earth or stone built to hold back water or to carry a road or railway over low ground.
n. a raised structure of earth, gravel, or stone, typically constructed to prevent flooding or to support a transport route across a depression.
Examples
“The river overflowed and damaged the grassy embankment.”
“Engineers built a high embankment to protect the coastal town from rising sea levels during storms.”
“The railway line runs along a steep embankment, providing passengers with an elevated view of the surrounding wetlands while ensuring the tracks remain dry during the monsoon season.”
Examples
simple
“The river overflowed and damaged the grassy embankment.”
contextual
“Engineers built a high embankment to protect the coastal town from rising sea levels during storms.”
complex
“The railway line runs along a steep embankment, providing passengers with an elevated view of the surrounding wetlands while ensuring the tracks remain dry during the monsoon season.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article when referring to a specific riverside walkway, such as the Thames Embankment.
Real-World Examples
“And whether that water becomes a disaster in India depends not only on how much rain has fallen in Nepal, but also on rainfall, river levels, embankments, drainage and development on the Indian side.” “His car flew into a crowd of people on an embankment, killing him and 14 others.” Etymology
From embank + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.