champaign

noun

cham·​paign sham-ˈpān 

1

: an expanse of level open country : plain

2

archaic : battlefield

champaign adjective

Synonyms

• campo
• down(s)
• grassland
• heath
• lea
• ley
• llano
• moor
• pampa
• plain
• prairie
• savanna
• savannah
• steppe
• tundra
• veld
• veldt

Example Sentences

after days of trudging through dense forest, the explorers came upon a vast champaign

Word History

Etymology

Middle English champaine, from Anglo-French champaigne, from Late Latin campania — more at campaign

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Geographical Definition

Champaign

geographical name

Cham·​paign sham-ˈpān 

city in east central Illinois adjoining the city of Urbana population 81,055