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Definition of linville

linville

/ˈlɪnvɪl/
Lin · ville

Plural:Linvilles
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linville Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A small resort community in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, situated near Grandfather Mountain.


2

American A river in western North Carolina that flows through the rugged terrain of the Linville Gorge, an area often referred to as the 'Grand Canyon of the East'.


3

An English surname, most notably belonging to the explorers whose names were later given to prominent geographical features in the Appalachian Mountains.

Example

"While researching her ancestry, she discovered that the Linville family had migrated to the American colonies in the early eighteenth century."

Word Origin & Etymology

Of English origin, generally serving as a locational surname. In the United States, several notable geographic features in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, including Linville Gorge and Linville Falls, are named after William Linville and his son, explorers who were killed there in 1766.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Linville. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/linville
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