playa

(plä′yə)

☆

noun

a desert basin that temporarily becomes a shallow lake after heavy rains

Origin: Sp, lit., beach < Prov < VL plagia, coast, side < or akin to Gr, sides < plagos, side < IE *plāg-, flat < base *plā- > plain

See playa in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A nearly level area at the bottom of an undrained desert basin, sometimes temporarily covered with water.

Origin:

Origin: Spanish

Origin: , from Late Latin plagia, hillside, shoreline

Origin: , probably from Greek, sides

Origin: , from neuter pl. of plagios, oblique, sideways; see plagio-

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