cor·dil·le·ra 
(kôr′dl-yârə, kôr-dĭlər-ə)
(kôr′dl-yârə, kôr-dĭlər-ə)n.
An extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges, especially the principal mountain system of a continent.
[Spanish, from cordilla, diminutive of cuerda, cord, from Latin chorda; see CORD.]