can ‧ yon /ˈkænjən/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: American Spanish ; Origin: cañón , from Spanish , 'tube, pipe' , from caña 'cane' , from Latin canna ; ⇨ ↑ cane 1 ]
a deep valley with very steep sides of rock that usually has a river running through it
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ valley an area of lower land between two lines of hills or mountains, usually with a river flowing through it:
The route passes through a remote mountain valley.
|
a trek up the Gokyo Valley to see Mount Everest
▪ gorge a deep narrow valley with steep sides - often used in names, especially in Europe:
The river flows through a deep gorge.
|
Cheddar Gorge
▪ canyon a deep valley with very steep sides - often used in names, especially in North and South America:
She looked down the side of the canyon.
|
We visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
▪ ravine a small valley with very steep sides:
He fell down a ravine.
▪ glen a deep narrow valley in Scotland or Ireland:
They followed the river along the glen.
|
the Glens of Antrim
▪ gully a small narrow valley, usually formed by a lot of rain flowing down the side of a hill:
They reached the top by scrambling up a gully.