Ravine and Ravenous Come From Rushing Water
A ravine is a deep narrow valley. The French root means a violent rush, which also gives ravenous and ravish.
A ravine is a deep narrow valley cut by water. The French *ravine* meant a violent rush or torrent, from Latin *rapina*, plunder — the same root as *rapid*, *rapture*, *ravenous* and *ravish*. All describe seizing or rushing, and a ravine is what a rushing torrent leaves behind.
- A deep narrow valley. *A rocky ravine.*
- Gully — a smaller version. *A steep gully.*
- Gorge — a larger one. *A limestone gorge.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | ravine | A wooded ravine. |
| Plural | ravines | Deep ravines. |
| Related | rapid | A river rapid. |
| Related | ravenous | A ravenous appetite. |
| Related | rapine | Acts of rapine. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The stream cut a ravine.Erosion.
- Ravenous comes from the same root.Seizing food violently.
- A gorge is wider than a ravine.Roughly speaking.
Valley types by size
- Gully — small, cut by runoff
- Ravine — deeper and narrower than a valley
- Gorge — steep-sided, often with a river
- Canyon — very large, from Spanish *cañón*
- Combe or coombe — a short valley, common in southern English place names
From French *ravine*, a torrent, from Latin *rapina*, plunder, from *rapere*, to seize.
Ravine or gorge?
A ravine is narrower and usually smaller. A gorge is a larger steep-sided valley, often with a river running through it.
Are ravenous and ravine related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *rapere*, to seize violently. A ravenous appetite seizes food; a torrent seizes the land.