Cekung

Cekung is a term used in Indonesian and Malay language contexts with multiple senses. Primarily, it means concave or inward-curving and is used to describe shapes and landforms. In geography and hydrology, cekung features refer to depressions, bowl-shaped valleys, or basins where water may collect. The word appears in descriptive terrain notes and field reports to convey inward-curving or recessed characteristics of the landscape.

As a toponym, Cekung can appear as part of local place names in various Indonesian and Malaysian localities, often reflecting nearby landscape features. However, there is no single widely recognized administrative area officially named “Cekung” at national levels. In maps and local signage, Cekung typically functions as a component of a longer place name rather than as an independent district or city.

Etymology and usage notes: Cekung derives from the Indonesian adjective cekung, meaning concave. The term is used across disciplines such as geography, geology, and urban planning to describe form and orientation of terrain, as well as in naming practices that draw on visible landscape traits. Its meaning remains descriptive rather than administrative, and its interpretation depends on context and regional usage.

See also: cekungan, basins, topography.