retaining wall

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

retain′ing wall′, 

1. Building, Civil Engineering a wall for holding in place a mass of earth or the like, as at the edge of a terrace or excavation. Also called breast wall. 

• 1830–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

retaining wall noun

1. a wall constructed to hold back earth, loose rock, etc
   Also called: revetment