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plateau

Syllabification: (pla·teau)
Pronunciation: /plaˈtō/

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Definition of plateau

noun (plural plateaus or plateaux /-ˈtōz/)

  • 1an area of relatively level high ground.
  • [as modifier] denoting a group of American Indian peoples of the plateau country of western Canada and the US, including the Nez Percé.
  • 2a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress:the peace process had reached a plateau

verb (plateaus, plateauing, plateaued)

[no object]
  • reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress:the industry’s problems have plateaued out

Origin:

late 18th century: from French, from Old French platel, diminutive of plat 'level'

Spelling help

The plural of the noun can be spelled either plateaus or plateaux (as in the original French).

plateau in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of plateau in the British & World English dictionary

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