embankment

em·bank·ment

noun \-mənt\

Definition of EMBANKMENT

1

: a raised structure (as of earth or gravel) used especially to hold back water or to carry a roadway

2

: the action of embanking

Examples of EMBANKMENT

1. <the embankment is steep, so be careful walking along the ridge>

First Known Use of EMBANKMENT

1786

Related to EMBANKMENT

Synonyms: dike, dam, head, levee

Related Words: breakwater, jetty, seawall; breastwork, bulwark, earthwork, rampart; canal, channel, ditch, gutter, trough; lock; barricade, barrier, block; floodgate, sluice; barrage, milldam, stank [British], weir

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Other Civil Engineering Terms

asphalt, ballast, barrage, cantilever, infrastructure, sluice