First Known Use: 1796
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>
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Origin of PLATEAU
French, from Middle French, platter, from plat flat
Other Geology Terms
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
See plateau defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PLATEAU
1939
PLATEAUX 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\
Learn More About PLATEAU
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Next Word in the Dictionary: plateau–basaltPrevious Word in the Dictionary: plate armorAll Words Near: plateau
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