A butte is an isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a flat top, formed by erosion of the surrounding land. Buttes are remnants of larger rock structures, such as mesas or plateaus, that have been worn away over time. They are common in arid and semi-arid regions and are significant in understanding erosion processes and landscape evolution.
Reference: Twidale, C. R. (2007). Desert Geomorphology. Cambridge University Press.