ScienceAugust 27, 2026

playa

PLY-uh

Definition

A flat, dry lakebed found in desert regions that occasionally holds water after rainfall.

Etymology

Derived from the Spanish word for 'beach' or 'shore,' the term was adopted into English to describe the characteristic dry, flat lake basins found in the American Southwest.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the flat, desert-like location where the meteorite fragments landed along the edge of the Great Salt Lake.

Great Salt Lake meteorite lands in a new home

Read the full article ↗

The University of Utah

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