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Earthwork - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

An earthwork is a structure or alteration made to the land, such as a mound, trench, or embankment, often created for construction, defense, or agriculture. It involves moving or shaping soil and rocks.

earthwork

/ˈɝθˌwɝk/ /ˈɜːθˌwɜːk/

Definition:

Large-scale construction or alteration of land, typically for engineering or archaeological purposes.

Synonyms:

embankment, excavation, mound, fortification

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

demolition, leveling

Common Collocations:

ancient earthwork, defensive earthwork, massive earthwork, archaeological earthwork

Derivatives:

earthworks, earthworking

Usage Tips:

Use "earthwork" to describe human-made changes to terrain, often in construction or archaeology contexts.

Common Phrases:

Iron Age earthwork, prehistoric earthwork, medieval earthwork

Etymology:

Derived from Old English "eorþweorc," combining "earth" and "work," referring to manual labor on land.

Examples:

  • 1. The archaeologists studied the ancient earthwork for clues about early settlements.
  • 2. The construction crew built an earthwork to prevent flooding in the area.
  • 3. This Neolithic earthwork is one of the largest in Europe.
  • 4. The military used earthworks as defensive barriers during the war.

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