karst

noun

ˈkärst How to pronounce karst (audio)
: an irregular limestone region with sinkholes, underground streams, and caverns
karstic
ˈkär-stik How to pronounce karst (audio)
adjective

Examples of karst in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Animals living in these fragmented zones can evolve in relative isolation, which is one reason karst regions tend to produce discoveries like this one. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2026 Plentiful rain falling on porous karst geology collects and feeds groundwater to more than 300 artesian springs. — Robert Knight, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026 Each hill and cave in Cambodia’s rocky karst landscape –– a term for a landscape created when rocks break down, forming large cave springs, sinking streams and sinkholes –– is isolated from the others. — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026 In addition to learning more about the karsts' mysterious ecosystems, the biodiversity study aimed to advocate for their conservation. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for karst

Word History

Etymology

German, from Slovene dialect or Croatian dialect kras, kars, type of rock, region composed of such rock

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of karst was in 1902

Rhymes for karst

See All Rhymes for karst

Browse Nearby Words

Karshuni
karst
Karst
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Karst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karst. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Geographical Definition

Karst

geographical name

ˈkärst How to pronounce Karst (audio)
variants or Kras
ˈkräs How to pronounce Karst (audio)
or Italian Carso
ˈkär-(ˌ)sō How to pronounce Karst (audio)
limestone plateau northeast of the Istrian Peninsula in western Slovenia extending into eastern Italy

More from Merriam-Webster on karst

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about karst

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All