Corniche (en. Cornice)
/kɔʁniʃ/
Meaning & Definition
EnglishFrench
noun
A narrow road or path that follows the contour of a mountain or cliff.
The corniche offers a panoramic view of the sea.
La corniche offre une vue panoramique sur la mer.
Projecting or overhanging part of a construction.
The cornice of the building is adorned with sculptures.
La corniche du bâtiment est ornée de sculptures.
Edge of a valley or canyon.
We walked along the corniche of the valley.
Nous avons marché le long de la corniche de la vallée.
Etymology
From the Latin 'cornicia', which means 'cornice' or 'ledge'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
to take the corniche
To follow a road or path that borders a cliff.
prendre la corniche
corniche of the Alps
A famous scenic road in the Alps.
corniche des Alpes
the corniche of Nice
A famous coastal road in Nice, France.
la corniche de Nice
Related Words
cliff
Steep terrain elevation, often overlooking the sea.
falaise
mountain
More or less steep terrain elevation, generally higher than a hill.
montagne
road
Roadway for vehicles.
route
Slang Meanings
Using a road to bypass obstacles.
We took the corniche to avoid the traffic jam.
On a pris la corniche pour éviter le bouchon.
Walking along a beautiful scenic road.
We're going to take a corniche tonight to enjoy the sunset.
On va faire une corniche ce soir pour profiter du coucher de soleil.