Word
plains
Phoneticsplains
US/ˈpɫeɪnz/
UK/plˈeɪnz/
Definitions
01flat land
n. large areas of flat land that usually have grass but very few trees.
n. extensive areas of level or nearly level land, typically characterized by grassland and a lack of significant forestation.
“The train traveled across the vast plains for hours without passing a single hill.”
“The nomadic tribes followed the seasonal migration of the herds across the grassy plains, relying on the open landscape for visibility.”
Usage
Usually used in the plural form when referring to the landscape in general.
Synonyms
02The Great Plains
n. a specific large, flat region in the middle of North America.
n. A proper noun referring to the broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe, and grassland, located west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains.
“Many families moved to the Plains in the 1800s to start their own farms.”
“Agriculture on the Great Plains was transformed by the introduction of deep-plowing techniques, though this later contributed to the environmental disaster of the Dust Bowl.”
American English
Usage
Always capitalized and usually preceded by 'the' when referring to this specific region.
Teaching tip
While 'plains' is a general term, in an American context, 'the Plains' almost always refers to this specific central region.
Word family
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/plains