grassland area steppe A plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally considered as being dominated by tall grasses, while short grasses are said to be normal in the steppe. It may be semi-desert, or covered with grass or shrubs or both, depending on the season and latitude. FTT:259 pampa puszta grassland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steppe EcoLexicon:steppe pampas