Standard Lemma guide

couloir

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /kulˈwɑɹ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɑɹ

1

noun

Meaning 1

A steep gorge along a mountainside.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: climbing, hobbies, lifestyle, skiing, sports

Examples

  • 2002, American Alpine Club Safety Committee, Alpine Club of Canada Safety Committee, Accidents in North American Mountaineering, Issue 55, page 58, When they approached the couloir shortly before 0300, the snow was firm enough for them to use crampons.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A corridor or passage.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: rare

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from French couloir (literally “corridor”).

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Couloir — steep gorge along a mountainside
  • German: Rinne — steep gorge along a mountainside
  • Polish: żleb — steep gorge along a mountainside
  • Russian: уще́лье (uščélʹje) — steep gorge along a mountainside
  • Russian: кулуа́р (kuluár) — steep gorge along a mountainside