embankment

/ɪmˈbæŋkmɪnt/

/ɪmˈbæŋkmənt/

Other forms: embankments

Definitions of embankment

1. noun

   a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection
   types:

   levee

   an embankment that is built in order to prevent a river from overflowing

   bulwark, rampart, wall

   an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes

   bailey

   the outer defensive wall that surrounds the outer courtyard of a castle

   battlement, crenelation, crenellation

   (architecture) a rampart built around the top of a castle, city wall, or other structure, with regular gaps for firing weapons

   earthwork

   an earthen rampart

   fraise

   sloping or horizontal rampart of pointed stakes

   merlon

   a solid section between two crenels in a crenelated battlement

   type of:

   hill, mound

   structure consisting of an artificial heap or bank usually of earth or stones