berm

noun \ ˈbərm \

Updated on: 12 May 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

Now, the berm hosts the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, officially part of the Florida Scenic Trail that snakes its way for 1,300 miles up through the state.

— richard tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Okeechobee County: Tackling the Big O scenic trail," 6 May 2018
For all of the shiny, state-of-the-art marketing and the unmatched run of business success, some had become convinced there was something toxic about the culture behind the berm.

— jeff manning, OregonLive.com, "Nike's challenges in #me-too era prompts big media attention," 28 Apr. 2018
Special absorbent booms were placed on nearby Newton Creek Thursday in case any petroleum products overflowed the berms, Kesler said.

— don behm, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "No oil or asphalt from Superior refinery overflowed to waterways in wake of explosions and fires," 27 Apr. 2018
The Reds responded in the bottom of the fifth via a two-run, 414-foot homer by Schebler to the grass berm in center field that tied the game at two.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Reds, Jim Riggleman beat Atlanta Braves behind Sal Romano's solid outing," 23 Apr. 2018
But Phillips pulled the pitch into the berm beyond right-center field for the only run of the game.

— maria torres, kansascity, "Brewers 1, Royals 0: Offense goes dormant in Nate Karns' last outing of spring | The Kansas City Star," 22 Mar. 2018
Castellanos had crushed another baseball a short while earlier, off the brick wall at the top of the leftfield berm at Joker Marchant Stadium, for his second home run of the spring.

— anthony fenech, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit Tigers' Nicholas Castellanos wants to repeat late-2017 success," 1 Mar. 2018
On Thursday, five tents in a camp near Gaza City were moved to within 300 meters of the fence and bulldozers raised a new protective berm.

— Fox News, "Gaza protest camps moved closer to Israel border fence," 19 Apr. 2018
To drive off the cliff, Jennifer Hart would have had to make a hard 90-degree turn from the road, traverse the entire turnout and drive up and over a short berm that sits at the clifftop.

— kale williams, OregonLive.com, "Mystery only deepens of what led to crash, disappearance of Devonte Hart and family," 30 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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