dike
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dike
A human-made embankment, usually made of earth, that protects land from flooding by the sea or a river.
An der Nordseeküste schützen hohe Deiche das flache Land vor Sturmfluten.
On the North Sea coast, high dikes protect the flat land from storm surges.
The prepositions used with 'Deich' (dike) describe the position precisely. You go for a walk 'auf dem Deich' (on the dike, on top of it), you drive 'am Deich' (along the dike, next to it), and you live safely 'hinter dem Deich' (behind the dike, protected).
Im Urlaub sind wir jeden Tag auf dem Deich spazieren gegangen.
On vacation, we went for a walk on the dike every day.
Typical verbs describe the construction and function of the dike. You can 'bauen' (build), 'erhöhen' (raise), or 'verstärken' (reinforce) a dike. If it does not withstand the water, the dike 'bricht' (breaks).
Nach dem Hochwasser mussten die Deiche am Fluss verstärkt werden.
After the flood, the dikes along the river had to be reinforced.
The word 'Deich' (dike) is especially common in northern Germany and in coastal regions, where protection from flooding and storm surges plays a major role.
Ohne die Deiche würde ein großer Teil der Niederlande überflutet werden.
Without the dikes, a large part of the Netherlands would be flooded.
rampart / embankment
Wall and Deich can both refer to a man-made embankment built to protect against flooding. Deich is the usual precise term for this, especially along coasts and rivers. Wall is more general and can also refer to other elongated earth embankments.
Ein hoher Deich schützt die Häuser an der Küste vor Sturmfluten.
A high dike protects the houses on the coast from storm surges.
Ein hoher Wall schützt die Häuser am Fluss vor Hochwasser.
A high embankment protects the houses along the river from flooding.
