PLATEAU (a

See also:

• FRENCH
• FRENCH, DANIEL CHESTER (1850– )
• FRENCH, NICHOLAS (1604-1678)

French

See also:

• TERM

term, older platel, for a

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• FLAT (a modification of O. Eng. flet, an obsolete word of Teutonic origin, meaning the ground beneath the feet)

flat piece of

See also:

• WOOD, ANTHONY A2 (1632-1695)
• WOOD, JOHN GEORGE (1827—1889)
• WOOD, MRS HENRY [ELLEN] (1814—1887)
• WOOD, SEARLES VALENTINE (1798—188o)

wood,

See also:

• METAL
• METAL (through Fr. from Lat. metallum, mine, quarry, adapted from Gr. µATaXAov, in the same sense, probably connected with ,ueraAAdv, to search after, explore, µeTa, after, aAAos, other)

metal, &c., from plat, flat)  , in physical geography, an elevated region of level or gently undulating land-surface, the term being synonymous with " table-land." The most clearly defined plateaus have steep flanks in contrast with their level summits, but the term does not necessarily connote a steep ascent from the surrounding country . Indeed, it is applied to such diverse forms as the high-lying plains encircled by the higher elevations of the Andes, and to those of the west of North America, which rise almost imperceptibly from the low central plains . A plateau may have its origin either in the upheaval of strata which preserve their original horizontal position during the process, or in the prolonged denudation of an originally broken surface . The two forms are distinguished respectively as Plateaus of Deposition and Plateaus of Erosion .