1. deep ravines or gulches, typically dry except during rainy seasons, formed by water erosion
Usage: geology; primarily Western North America
2. streams of solidified lava
Usage: geology; volcanic

Examples

• The hikers descended into one of the steep coulees carved by ancient floods.
• During the spring melt, water rushed through the coulees toward the valley.
• The landscape was marked by numerous coulees and dry creek beds.
• Volcanic coulees created distinctive ridges across the plateau.
• Cattle often sought shelter in the coulees during storms.
• The geological survey mapped several coulees in the badlands region.