val ‧ ley S3 W3 /ˈvæli/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: valee , from val ; ⇨ ↑ vale ]
an area of lower land between two lines of hills or mountains, usually with a river flowing through it:
the San Fernando Valley
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + valley
▪ narrow
The valley becomes narrower at this point.
▪ wide/broad
We looked down on the wide valley below.
▪ deep/steep
a bridge across a deep valley
▪ a river valley
The route passes through beautiful wooded river valleys.
▪ a green/wooded/lush valley (=one with a lot of plants or trees growing in it)
We were on a ridge above a green valley, with the mountains beyond it.
▪ the Thames/San Fernando etc Valley
There are extensive views across the Forth Valley.
■ valley + NOUN
▪ the valley floor
Most of the town is built on the valley floor.
■ phrases
▪ the side of a valley
He looked across to the far side of the valley.
▪ the slopes of a valley
They live in houses of stone on the slopes of a wooded valley.
▪ the head of a valley (=the higher end of a valley)
There is a great waterfall at the head of a valley.
▪ the bottom of a valley
The stream in the bottom of the valley was spanned by a narrow bridge.
• • •
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.