TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
SEA CLIFF [4 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2024-11-27
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Erosion and Weathering (Geol.)
- Hydrology and Hydrography
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- sea cliff retreat
1, record 1, English, sea%20cliff%20retreat
correct, noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
... wave action ... causing the coastal cliff to erode and recede toward land. 2, record 1, English, - sea%20cliff%20retreat
Record 1, Key term(s)
- sea-cliff retreat
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Érosion et corrosion (Géologie)
- Hydrologie et hydrographie
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- retrait de la falaise
1, record 1, French, retrait%20de%20la%20falaise
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Des observations sur les falaises qui bordent la plage de Long Beach en Australie sud orientale montrent que les processus marins, qu’il s’agisse d’un sapement à la base de la falaise ou de l’enlèvement de debris, ne sont pas nécessaires pour occasionner des épisodes de retrait de la falaise. 1, record 1, French, - retrait%20de%20la%20falaise
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2016-08-12
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Birds
Universal entry(ies) Record 2
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- Red Sea swallow
1, record 2, English, Red%20Sea%20swallow
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- Red Sea cliff swallow 1, record 2, English, Red%20Sea%20cliff%20%20swallow
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
A bird of the family Hirundinidae. 2, record 2, English, - Red%20Sea%20swallow
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
In English scientific usage, all elements of names of bird species require capital letters except for hyphenated adjectives where the second word is not capitalized, for example, Black-crowned Night Heron. 2, record 2, English, - Red%20Sea%20swallow
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Oiseaux
Entrée(s) universelle(s) Record 2
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- hirondelle de la mer Rouge
1, record 2, French, hirondelle%20de%20la%20mer%20Rouge
correct, feminine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Oiseau de la famille des Hirundinidae. 2, record 2, French, - hirondelle%20de%20la%20mer%20Rouge
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
hirondelle de la mer Rouge : nom français uniformisé par la Commission internationale des noms français des oiseaux. 2, record 2, French, - hirondelle%20de%20la%20mer%20Rouge
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 3 OBS
En français, les noms des espèces d'oiseaux acquièrent une valeur de nom propre; tous les substantifs génériques de même que tous les qualificatifs spécifiques qui précèdent le substantif générique doivent prendre la majuscule, par exemple : Pétrel minime, Petit Butor. 2, record 2, French, - hirondelle%20de%20la%20mer%20Rouge
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2016-03-08
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Geomorphology and Geomorphogeny
- Human Geography
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- dead cliff
1, record 3, English, dead%20cliff
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- abandoned cliff 2, record 3, English, abandoned%20cliff
correct
- former sea cliff 3, record 3, English, former%20sea%20cliff
correct
- former sea-cliff 4, record 3, English, former%20sea%2Dcliff
correct
- ancient cliff 5, record 3, English, ancient%20cliff
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A former sea-cliff, no longer directly affected by wave erosion, owing to (i) accumulation of beach material, or (ii) a fall in sea-level. 4, record 3, English, - dead%20cliff
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Géomorphologie et géomorphogénie
- Géographie humaine
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- falaise morte
1, record 3, French, falaise%20morte
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[...] abrupt réalisé par l'action érosive des vagues, mais situé en retrait du littoral actuel, ou en position perchée par rapport à lui. 2, record 3, French, - falaise%20morte
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les falaises reculent (sous) l'action érosive des vagues [...] En fait, le mécanisme essentiel est celui de l'éboulement des falaises par le jeu de failles panamiennes [...] la mer jouant essentiellement le rôle d'agent évacuateur des débris : quand celui-ci cesse, la falaise s'empêtre dans ses propres débris et devient une falaise morte. 3, record 3, French, - falaise%20morte
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Une falaise morte, soustraite à l'influence de la mer, est située en retrait par rapport à l'ancien trait de côte, dont elle est séparée par une ceinture d'accumulation. 4, record 3, French, - falaise%20morte
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2003-04-09
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Geomorphology and Geomorphogeny
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- sea cliff
1, record 4, English, sea%20cliff
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
- seacliff 1, record 4, English, seacliff
correct
- cliff 2, record 4, English, cliff
correct
- marine cliff 1, record 4, English, marine%20cliff
correct
- cleve 3, record 4, English, cleve
correct, Great Britain
- waterfront cliff 4, record 4, English, waterfront%20cliff
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A cliff or slope produced by wave erosion, situated at the seaward edge of the coast or the landward side of the wave-cut platform, and marking the inner limit of beach erosion. 1, record 4, English, - sea%20cliff
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
It may vary from an inconspicuous slope to a high, steep escarpment. 1, record 4, English, - sea%20cliff
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Géomorphologie et géomorphogénie
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- falaise
1, record 4, French, falaise
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
- falaise maritime 2, record 4, French, falaise%20maritime
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Abrupt vertical ou à pente forte visible sur une certaine longueur et dû à l'action de la mer. 3, record 4, French, - falaise
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Les falaises, de plusieurs dizaines de mètres de haut, s'étendent sur plusieurs centaines de mètres de long et se poursuivent latéralement par des pentes raides, sur le flanc des principales crêtes. 3, record 4, French, - falaise
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Le type morphologique falaise [...] n'est pas exclusivement une forme d'érosion marine [...] Le rôle de la mer est, le plus souvent, de rafraîchir le pied de la falaise favorisant un recul ultérieur. 4, record 4, French, - falaise
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Geomorfología y geomorfogénesis
Record 4, Main entry term, Spanish
- acantilado
1, record 4, Spanish, acantilado
masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 4, Synonyms, Spanish
- cantil 1, record 4, Spanish, cantil
masculine noun
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


