cou·lee (k  l )n. 1. Western U.S. A deep gulch or ravine with sloping sides, often dry in summer. 2. Louisiana & Southern Mississippi a. A streambed, often dry according to the season. b. A small stream, bayou, or canal. 3. Upper Midwest A valley with hills on either side. 4. a. A stream of molten lava. b. A sheet of solidified lava. [Canadian French coulée, from French, flow, from couler, to flow, from Latin c  l re, to filter, from clum, sieve.] |
coulee [ˈkuːleɪ -lɪ]
n
1. (Earth Sciences / Geological Science)
a. a flow of molten lava
b. such lava when solidified
2. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) Western US and Canadian a dry stream valley, especially a long steep-sided gorge or ravine that once carried melt water from a glacier
3. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) a small intermittent stream in such a ravine
[from Canadian French coulée a flow, from French, from couler to flow, from Latin cōlāre to sift, purify; see colander]
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