butte

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A butte is an isolated hill with steep sides and a small flat top, smaller than mesas and plateaus. Buttes are prevalent in the western United States and on the Hawaiian Islands, especially around Honolulu. The word "butte" comes from a French word meaning "small hill".

Buttes are formed by erosion when a cap of hard rock, usually of volcanic origin, is covered by a layer of softer rock that is easily worn away. The hard rock avoids erosion while the soft rock around it wears down. One example of a noted butte is Chimney Rock.

"Butte" often is accidentally mispronounced to sound like the English word "butt," leading to embarrassment in some situations. "Butte" rhymes with "mute."


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