Gulleys

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Deep, elongated indentations in the ground formed by the erosion of soil and rock due to flowing water
2. Landforms characterized by steep sides and a channel where water can flow, typically resulting from erosion
3. Channels cut into the earth by persistent water flow, creating narrow and steep-sided depressions

Etymology: "Gulleys" is the plural of "gulley", a noun for a steep-sided landform with a channel where water runs, usually carved by erosion. The singular is the more standard spelling in dictionaries, with "gullies" as the common alternative plural. Both forms are accepted, so the choice between them is largely a matter of spelling preference rather than correctness. The singular "gulley" is a variant spelling of "gully", which is the form most reference works treat as the main entry. Because the noun itself is the thing being pluralised, the story of the word's meaning lies in the base form rather than in the plural ending, which simply adds the regular "-s" that English uses for nouns like this.

Synonyms: ravines, drainages, ditches, channels, valleys

Antonyms: heights, mountains, peaks, uplands, plateaus