From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishvalleyval‧ley /ˈvæli/ ●●● S3 W3 noun [countable] DNan area of lower land between two lines of hills or mountains, usually with a river flowing through it the San Fernando ValleyCOLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + valley narrowThe valley becomes narrower at this point.wide/broadWe looked down on the wide valley below.deep/steepa bridge across a deep valleya river valleyThe route passes through beautiful wooded river valleys.a green/wooded/lush valley (=one with a lot of plants or trees growing in it)We were on a ridge above a green valley, with the mountains beyond it.the Thames/San Fernando etc ValleyThere are extensive views across the Forth Valley.valley + NOUNthe valley floorMost of the town is built on the valley floor.phrasesthe side of a valleyHe looked across to the far side of the valley.the slopes of a valleyThey live in houses of stone on the slopes of a wooded valley.the head of a valley (=the higher end of a valley)There is a great waterfall at the head of a valley.the bottom of a valleyThe stream in the bottom of the valley was spanned by a narrow bridge.THESAURUSvalley an area of lower land between two lines of hills or mountains, usually with a river flowing through itThe route passes through a remote mountain valley.a trek up the Gokyo Valley to see Mount Everestgorge a deep narrow valley with steep sides – often used in names, especially in EuropeThe river flows through a deep gorge.Cheddar Gorgecanyon a deep valley with very steep sides – often used in names, especially in North and South AmericaShe looked down the side of the canyon.We visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona.ravine a small valley with very steep sidesHe fell down a ravine.glen a deep narrow valley in Scotland or IrelandThey followed the river along the glen.the Glens of Antrimgully a small narrow valley, usually formed by a lot of rain flowing down the side of a hillThey reached the top by scrambling up a gully.
Examples from the Corpus
valley• Mam Tor is the first objective on the walk along the ridge which separates the Hope and Edale valleys.• New designs with foot pivots allow snow hikers to tackle almost any hill or valley.• From here they could control both river valleys, and deny Douglas his passage home by either.• the Mississippi River valley• By some weird arithmetic, the more life stuffs itself into the valley, the more spaces it creates for further life.• Each year several thousand people leave the valleys and few arrive.• The marines would land on the beach north of the valley.• The wind, blasting up the valley, decided the direction the trees would fall.Origin valley (1200-1300) Old French valee, from val; → VALE 