Dictionary

1plateau

noun pla·teau \pla-ˈtō, ˈpla-ˌ\

: a large flat area of land that is higher than other areas of land that surround it

: a period when something does not increase or advance any further

plural plateaus or pla·teaux \-ˈtōz, -ˌtōz\

Full Definition of PLATEAU

1
a :  a usually extensive land area having a relatively level surface raised sharply above adjacent land on at least one side :  tableland
b :  a similar undersea feature
2
a :  a region of little or no change in a graphic representation
b :  a relatively stable level, period, or condition
3
:  a level of attainment or achievement <the 500-point plateau>
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of PLATEAU

French, from Middle French, platter, from plat flat
First Known Use: 1796

Related to PLATEAU

Other Geology Terms

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

Rhymes with PLATEAU

aglow, ago, airflow, airglow, air show, alow, although, archfoe, argot, a throw, backflow, backhoe, bandeau, Baotou, barlow, bateau, below, bestow, big toe, bon mot, bravo, by-blow, cachepot, callow, caló, Carlow, cash flow, chapeau, Chi-Rho, cockcrow, Cocteau, cornrow, corn snow, crossbow, Cousteau, Darrow, Day-Glo, dayglow, death row, Defoe, de trop, deathblow, deco, down-bow, dumb show, elbow, escrow, fencerow, flambeau, floor show, flyblow, fogbow, forego, foreknow, forgo, freak show, free throw, Freneau, Fuzhou, galop, game show, genro, gigot, Glencoe, go-slow, Gounod, Guangzhou, gung ho, guyot, Hadow, Hangzhou, Hankow, Harrow, heave-ho, hedgerow, heigh-ho, hello, hollo, horse show, ice floe, ice show, inflow, in tow, Io, jabot, jambeau, Jane Doe, jim crow, Jinzhou, Joe Blow, Jiaozhou, John Doe, Juneau, Hounslow, kayo, KO, Lanzhou, lie low, light show, longbow, low blow, Luchow, macho, mahoe, maillot, mallow, manteau, Marlowe, Marot, marrow, matelot, merlot, Meursault, minnow, Miró, misknow, Moho, mojo, morceau, morrow, Moscow, mucro, mudflow, Murrow, nightglow, no-no, no-show, nouveau, oboe, outflow, outgo, outgrow, oxbow, peep show, Pernod, picot, pronto, Quanzhou, quiz show, rainbow, Rameau, red snow, reflow, regrow, repo, reseau, road show, rondeau, rondo, roscoe, Roseau, rouleau, sabot, Saint-Lô, salchow, scarecrow, self-sow, serow, shadblow, Shantou, sideshow, skid row, ski tow, Soho, so-so, sound bow, sourdough, stone's throw, sunbow, Suzhou, tableau, Taizhou, talk show, tiptoe, Thoreau, tone row, tonneau, trade show, trousseau, Trudeau, uh-oh, unsew, up-bow, upthrow, van Gogh, wallow, Wenzhou, Wicklow, widow, willow, windrow, windthrow, winnow, Winslow, Wuzhou, Xuzhou, Yalow, yarrow, Zhangzhou, Zhengzhou, Zibo

2plateau

verb

: to stop growing or increasing : to reach a plateau

Full Definition of PLATEAU

intransitive verb
:  to reach a level, period, or condition of stability or maximum attainment

First Known Use of PLATEAU

1939
PLATEAU[1] Defined for Kids

plateau

noun pla·teau \pla-ˈtō\
plural plateaus or pla·teaux \-ˈtōz\

Definition of PLATEAU for Kids

:  a broad flat area of high land
Medical Dictionary

plateau

noun pla·teau \pla-ˈtō, ˈpla-ˌ\
plural plateaus or pla·teaux \-ˈtōz, -ˌtōz\

Medical Definition of PLATEAU

:  a relatively flat elevated area—see tibial plateau

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: plateau–basaltPrevious Word in the Dictionary: plate armorAll Words Near: plateau
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears