colluvium

[ kuh-loo-vee-uhm ]

noun

, Geology.

, plural col·lu·vi·a [k, uh, -, loo, -vee-, uh], col·lu·vi·ums.

1. loose earth material that has accumulated at the base of a hill, through the action of gravity, as piles of talus, avalanche debris, and sheets of detritus moved by soil creep or frost action.

colluvium

/ kəˈluːvɪəm /

noun

1. a mixture of rock fragments from the bases of cliffs

colluvium

/ kə-lo̅o̅′vē-əm /

, Plural colluviums

1. A loose deposit of rock debris accumulated through the action of rainwash or gravity at the base of a gently sloping cliff or slope.

Derived Forms

• colˈluvial, adjective

Other Words From

• col·luvi·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of colluvium¹

1935–40; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin colluv-, base of colluere to wash out ( collutory ) + -ium -ium, on the model of Latin alluvium alluvium, dīluvium deluge

Word History and Origins

Origin of colluvium¹

Latin: collection of filth, from colluere to wash thoroughly, from com- (intensive) + luere to wash