sediment
SED-uh-munt
/ˈsedɪmənt/
Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; dregs.
In geology, it refers to particles of rock, sand, or organic matter transported by water, wind, or ice.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'sedimentum', meaning 'a settling'. It comes from 'sedere' (to sit), describing material that 'sits down' at the bottom of a liquid.
Word relationships
- deposit: A deposit is the result of sediment settling; sediment is the material itself.
- silt: Silt is a specific size of sediment (finer than sand, coarser than clay).
Commonly confused with
- residue: Residue is what's left after a process (like a chemical reaction); sediment is what settles due to gravity.
Word family
- sedimentary (adjective): Formed from sediment.
- sedimentation (noun): The process of settling as sediment.
Collocations
- river sediment
- sediment layer
- accumulated sediment
Example sentences
- "Over millions of years, the sediment at the bottom of the lake turned into shale." Geology
- "The storm caused a lot of sediment to wash into the river, making the water cloudy." Water quality
Memory hook
Sediment 'sits' at the bottom. Settle at the bottom.
When not to use
Don't use it for 'trash' or 'garbage'; it implies natural, particulate matter.
Fun facts
- The Mississippi River carries about 500 million tons of sediment into the Gulf of Mexico every year.
Related words
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