alluvium

[ uh-loo-vee-uhm ]

noun

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

1. a deposit of sand, mud, etc., formed by flowing water.
2. the sedimentary matter deposited thus within recent times, especially in the valleys of large rivers.

alluvium

/ əˈluːvɪəm /

noun

1. a fine-grained fertile soil consisting of mud, silt, and sand deposited by flowing water on flood plains, in river beds, and in estuaries

alluvium

/ ə-lo̅o̅′vē-əm /

, Plural alluviums

1. Sand, silt, clay, gravel, or other matter deposited by flowing water, as in a riverbed, floodplain, delta, or alluvial fan. Alluvium is generally considered a young deposit in terms of geologic time.

Word History and Origins

Origin of alluvium¹

1655–65; < Latin, noun use of neuter of alluvius washed against, equivalent to alluv- ( alluvion ) + -ius, -ium adj. suffix; -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of alluvium¹

C17: from Latin; see alluvion

Example Sentences

Deposits of alluvium and volcanic ash have made desirable soil that is among the top 2% in the world.

From Seattle Times

“Nature-based solutions are a great option, because they’re a softer option and less intrusive,” said Leslie Duncan, senior Aboriginal consultant with Alluvium Consulting and CEO of Economic Participation of Indigenous Communities in Australia.

From Los Angeles Times

The last video, “Becoming Alluvium” by the Vietnamese artist Thao Nguyen Phan, is topical too.

From New York Times

Paved surfaces end miles from the rock outcrop, so we drive on overgrown rutted two-tracks that cross the loose sandy dune fields that show up on our geologic maps as “QAL”—Quaternary alluvium.

From Scientific American

Thus, a landscape architect I know savors the very smell of the dirt embedded in his botany texts; it is the alluvium of his life’s work.

From Slate

Related Words

• clay
• coast
• dirt
• dust
• gravel
• land
• mud
• sand
• shore
• surface
• terrain
• turf