Painted Desert landform (4)
I believe the answer is:
mesa
'painted desert landform' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for mesa that I've seen before include "Flat tableland with steep sides" , "In the US south-west, a steep-sided flat-topped hill" , "In the USA, a steep-sided flat-topped hill" , "Flat tableland with steep edges" , "Flat hill" .)