cordillera Hear it!

cordillera Definition

cor·dil·lera (kôr′dil yer′ə, -də ler′ə)

noun

a mountain range or a series of parallel mountain ranges that are usually the principal mountain system of a continent

Etymology: Sp < cordilla, dim. of cuerda, rope, cord < L chorda: see cord

cordillera Related Forms

cor′·dil·le′ran adjective

cordillera Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • Andean: The range of the modern llamas coincides strongly with the Central Andean cordillera ( Franklin 1982 ).
  • coastal: Colonia Tovar Montane site in northern coastal cordillera, ca 2hrs west of Caracas.
  • central: The range of the modern llamas coincides strongly with the Central Andean cordillera ( Franklin 1982 ).
  • northern: We'll touch the desert coast at Trujillo, Peru's second city, then climb again into the northern cordillera.