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Definition of athabasca

athabasca

/ˌæθ.əˈbæs.kə/
Ath · a · bas · ca
Adjective:Athabascan
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athabasca Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Canadian A large, deep freshwater lake located across the border of northwestern Saskatchewan and northeastern Alberta, Canada.

2

Canadian A major river in Alberta, Canada, originating from the Columbia Icefield in the Canadian Rockies and flowing northeast into Lake Athabasca.

3

Canadian A prominent glacier in the Canadian Rockies, serving as one of the principal toes of the Columbia Icefield.

Example

"Thousands of tourists visit the Athabasca each year to hike along the ancient, receding glacial ice."

• Rhymes for athabasca

• Nearby Words

at
atbarah
atemoya
athabasca
athabasca falls
athabascan
atheism

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Woods Cree word 'aðapaskāw', meaning 'where there are plants one after another', referring to the patchy vegetation along the river and lake.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Athabasca. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/athabasca
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