crevasse
kruh-VASS
/krəˈvæs/
A deep, dangerous fracture or chasm in a glacier or snowfield.
Specific to ice masses and glaciers; distinct from dry land cracks or rock fissures.
The story behind the word. When glacier ice expands and flexes over uneven bedrock, it bursts open with audible groans. Old French speakers used 'crevasse' (from Latin 'crepare', to rattle or split) to describe these terrifying, yawning splits in mountain ice.
Word relationships
- chasm: Chasm applies broadly to deep earth cracks or atmospheric divides, while crevasse strictly denotes ice/glaciers.
- fissure: Fissure is a general term for a narrow opening in rock or wood, lacking the scale and icy composition of a crevasse.
- plateau: A plateau is a elevated flat expanse, the structural opposite of an icy rift.
Commonly confused with
- crevice: A crevice is a tiny crack in a wall or rock; a crevasse is a massive, life-threatening rift in glacier ice.
Collocations
- hidden crevasse
- crevasse rescue
- glacial crevasse
- cross a crevasse
Example sentences
- "The lead mountaineer stepped cautiously, knowing a thin snow bridge concealed a bottomless crevasse." Glacier traversal
- "It took four hours of rope rigging to hoist the fallen climber out of the ice crevasse." Rescue maneuver
Memory hook
A crevasse is an ice CREVICE so huge it makes you gasp 'ALAS!' Deep icy fracture in glacier ice.
When not to use
Do not use for deep cracks in dry soil or masonry; use 'fissure' or 'crevice' instead.
Fun facts
- Crevasses can reach depths exceeding 150 feet (45 meters), where daylight completely disappears into blue darkness.
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