1. a narrow gorge or canyon, especially one formed by a river cutting through rock
Usage: often used in place names, particularly in the Pacific Northwest; from French dalle meaning 'slab' or 'flagstone'
2. a section of a river with swift currents and rapids, typically between steep rock walls
Usage: nautical/geographical

Examples

• The Dalles is a famous gorge along the Columbia River in Oregon.
• Kayakers navigate the swift currents through the dalles with skill and caution.
• The river carved deep dalles through the volcanic rock over millions of years.
• Hikers explored the scenic dalles during their trip through the canyon country.
• The narrow dalles created a natural bottleneck for river traffic.