online vocabulary.com

Rockface - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A rockface is the steep, exposed surface of a large rock or cliff, often found in mountains or coastal areas. It is commonly used for climbing or as a natural landmark.

rockface

/ˈrɑkˌfeɪs/ /ˈrɒkfeɪs/

Definition:

The vertical or steep surface of a rock formation, often found in mountains or cliffs.

Synonyms:

cliff face, crag, escarpment, precipice

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

valley, plain

Common Collocations:

climb the rockface, scale the rockface, rugged rockface

Derivatives:

rockfaces (plural), rockfaced (adjective)

Usage Tips:

Use "rockface" to describe steep natural rock surfaces, especially in climbing or hiking contexts.

Common Phrases:

sheer rockface, jagged rockface, towering rockface

Etymology:

Derived from "rock" (Old English *rocc*) + "face" (Old French *fasse*), referring to the visible surface of a rock mass.

Examples:

  • 1. The climbers scaled the sheer rockface with ropes and harnesses.
  • 2. A waterfall cascaded down the moss-covered rockface into the pool below.
  • 3. The hikers admired the rugged beauty of the granite rockface ahead.
  • 4. Birds nested in small crevices along the weathered rockface.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS