: an isolated hill or mountain with steep or precipitous sides usually having a smaller summit area than a mesa
Examples of butte in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gone were the photographers who climbed the butte overlooking the practice facility — known as Shohei Mountain — to get aerial shots of Ohtani’s arrival.
—
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
In the shadow of two buttes, Alex Cobb’s four-month odyssey came full circle.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024
The road back down to street level curls around the back of the butte in a series of steep straights, fast turns and road imperfections.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Dramatic red rock geologic formations, sandstone buttes and wide-open spaces have provided ample backdrops and artistic inspiration for legendary filmmakers throughout the decades.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 12 Jan. 2024
The red rock buttes here are said to house mysterious cosmic forces that are conducive to healing and self-exploration.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2023
Sedona is known for its famous red rock buttes, and the sun’s setting rays make the vibrant colors of the landscape glow against the deepening blue of the desert sky.
—Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 17 Dec. 2023
See the steep slopes, layered buttes, and dark rocks surrounding Curiosity while it was parked below Gediz Vallis Ridge, which formed as a result of violent debris flows that were later eroded by wind into a towering formation.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Sep. 2023
Hole-in-the-Rock Trail This rounded, red-hued butte in Papago Park is a Phoenix landmark.
—Jeff Ficker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
In the shadow of two buttes, Alex Cobb’s four-month odyssey came full circle.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024
The road back down to street level curls around the back of the butte in a series of steep straights, fast turns and road imperfections.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
Dramatic red rock geologic formations, sandstone buttes and wide-open spaces have provided ample backdrops and artistic inspiration for legendary filmmakers throughout the decades.
—Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 12 Jan. 2024
The red rock buttes here are said to house mysterious cosmic forces that are conducive to healing and self-exploration.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2023
Sedona is known for its famous red rock buttes, and the sun’s setting rays make the vibrant colors of the landscape glow against the deepening blue of the desert sky.
—Melissa Locker, Travel + Leisure, 17 Dec. 2023
See the steep slopes, layered buttes, and dark rocks surrounding Curiosity while it was parked below Gediz Vallis Ridge, which formed as a result of violent debris flows that were later eroded by wind into a towering formation.
—IEEE Spectrum, 22 Sep. 2023
Hole-in-the-Rock Trail This rounded, red-hued butte in Papago Park is a Phoenix landmark.
—Jeff Ficker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'butte.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near butte
Cite this Entry
“Butte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butte. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
butte
noun
: a hill with steep sides standing in a flat area
Geographical Definition
Butte
geographical name
city in southwestern Montana on a plateau in the Rockies population 32,996
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share