berm

noun \ ˈbərm \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of berm

1 : a narrow shelf, path, or ledge typically at the top or bottom of a slope; also : a mound or wall of earth or sand

a landscaped berm

2 : the shoulder of a road

deer … feeding on the berm of the highway
—Norman Erickson

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Recent Examples of berm from the Web

Since Wednesday morning, bulldozers have been constructing dirt berms at a location near the border.

— CNN, "Tensions high along Gaza-Israel border as Palestinians call for 'Friday of Fire'," 5 Apr. 2018
Earthen berms between the border and the camp provided additional protection.

— Washington Post, "Gaza protests driven by desperation, Hamas organization," 4 Apr. 2018
The airstrip was lined with snow berms on both sides, the airplane captain told investigators.

— laurel andrews, Anchorage Daily News, "Man struck in head by plane during Navy training exercise in the frozen Arctic Ocean," 28 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, the other buildings are pressed as much as possible into the earth, disguised with berms and gardens.

— alexandra lange, Curbed, "What does a presidential building look like?," 22 Mar. 2018
Kaiser says a subsequent investigation revealed that Pfeil’s 21-year-old neighbor was using his gun for target practice in his backyard and shooting toward a dirt berm, or embankment.

— kc baker, PEOPLE.com, "Woman Killed Next to Her Husband in Kitchen by Neighbor's Stray Bullet During Target Practice: Cops," 26 Mar. 2018
This could be done in Greenland with a 100-meter-high wall, or berm, across a five-kilometer fjord blocking water from the Atlantic from eating away at the glacier.

— sophie weiner, Popular Mechanics, "Geoengineered Glaciers Could Help Slow Rising Seas," 16 Mar. 2018
Hari's proposal calls for two 26-foot concrete walls built on a 30-foot packed earth berm.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "This Is His Beautiful House. But How Did He Get Here?," 15 Mar. 2018
The plans included ways to adapt, like building berms to reduce flooding risk that had increased because of climate change, and mitigation, like reducing the parks’ carbon footprint by installing solar energy.

— julie weed, New York Times, "Catering to ‘Last Chance’ Travelers Who Seek Disappearing Marvels," 5 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'berm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of berm

French berme, from Dutch berm strip of ground along a dike; akin to Middle English brimme brim

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1693

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Other Geology Terms

anthracite, boulder, cwm, erratic, igneous, intrusive, mesa, sedimentary, silt, swale

BERM Defined for English Language Learners

berm

noun

Definition of berm for English Language Learners

: a small hill or wall of dirt or sand

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See words that rhyme with berm Spanish Central: Translation of berm Nglish: Translation of berm for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about berm

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berm

Definition of berm

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berm

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