ˌkȯ(r)d ə lˈerə, -lˈye- also kȯ(r)ˈdilərə noun
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish, from cordilla, diminutive of cuerda rope, string, line of mountain peaks, from Latin chorda cord — more at cord
: a group of mountain ranges forming a mountain system of great linear extent often consisting of a number of more or less parallel chains
the No. American cordillera includes all the mountains from the eastern face of the Rocky mountains to the Pacific ocean — W.J.Miller
• cor·dil·le·ran |kȯ(r)d ə l|erən, -l|ye-, (ˈ) ̷ ̷|dilər- adjective