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earthwork Definition

earth·work (-wʉrk′)

noun

  1. an embankment made by piling up earth, esp. as a fortification
  2. Engineering the work of excavating or building embankments
  3. a work of art, usually massive in scale, incorporating a natural feature of an area, as a groove sculpted into a desert mesa or a wheat field planted in geometric patterns

earthwork Synonyms

earthwork

n.

earthwork Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • survive: The new study consisted of a measured survey of the surviving earthworks, together with a geophysical survey of features below the surface.
  • construct: Traces of a Saxon settlement have been found from the seventh century, and in the tenth century the Danes constructed defensive earthworks here.
  • build: They built huge earthworks, the largest indigenous buildings north of Mexico.
  • know: Queen Eleanor's Bower The most well known earthwork is Queen Eleanor's Bower.
  • require: Determine earthworks required for an agricultural or horticultural site.

Adjective modifier

  • prehistoric: Silbury Hill, the largest prehistoric earthwork in Europe, seems designed to catch the eye of the onlooker from a distance.
  • linear: The series of linear earthworks, just north of the fort, also merit further investigation.
  • defensive: Most likely, Wansdyke was a defensive linear earthwork.
  • ancient: Ancient earthworks survive just to the east of the field containing the well.
  • circular: There is also a circular earthwork of some sort.
  • experimental: However, the best example perhaps is the experimental earthwork.

Preposition: on

  • side: These earthworks on the SE side of the present village belong in fact to the Saxon village of East Overton.

Modifies a noun

  • enclosure: An earthwork enclosure may indicate the forerunner of the Roman town.
  • castle: The site is dominated by the earthwork castle mound, raised on the center of the kaim.
  • defense: To the south of White Castle a second outer enclosure formed part of the original earthwork defenses.
  • survey: We also managed to do an earthwork survey in this time.
  • bank: The earthwork banks of the castle built by the Normans still dominate the ruins.

Preposition: in

  • field: L into the village that was once much larger, with the remains of houses showing as mounds or earthworks in the fields.

Noun used with modifier

  • furrow: Medieval ridge and furrow earthworks and three post medieval tree stumps were recorded within the development area.
  • age: The trees behind the building on the edge of the village are growing on the banks of the village's iron age earthworks.

Browse dictionary entries near earthwork

  1. earthwards
  2. earthward
  3. earthstar
  4. earthshine
  5. earthshaking
  6. earthrise
  7. earthquake
  8. earthnut
  9. earthmover
  10. earthman
  1. earthworm
  2. earthy
  3. earwax
  4. earwig
  5. ease
  6. easeful
  7. easel
  8. easement
  9. easily
  10. easiness