argillaceous

American  

[ahr-juh-ley-shuhs] / ˌɑr dʒəˈleɪ ʃəs /

adjective

1. Geology, Petrology. of the nature of or resembling clay; clayey.

2. containing a considerable amount of clayey matter.

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argillaceous British  

/ ˌɑːdʒɪˈleɪʃəs /

adjective

1. (of sedimentary rocks and deposits) composed of very fine-grained material, such as clay, shale, etc Compare arenaceous rudaceous

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Etymology

Origin of argillaceous

First recorded in 1725–35, argillaceous is from the Latin word argillāceus clayish. See argil, -aceous

Example Sentences

Geologist Paula Messina showed that the ground is covered by argillaceous sediments and bacterial mats, forming under wet conditions a very slippery surface.

From Scientific American • Jul. 22, 2013

The girls ticked off aquarellist, staphylococcic, gracilescent, adscititious, eupraxia, argillaceous, autochthan and umbelliferous.

From Time Magazine Archive

The argillaceous slates or clayey slates make a smooth surface, but one which is easily destroyed when wet.

From The Future of Road-making in America by Hulbert, Archer Bulter

Laterite, lat′ėr-īt, n. an argillaceous sandstone of a reddish or brick colour found in India, esp. in Ceylon.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

It is mud-larking pure and simple, man, horse, and gun alike encased in a clinging argillaceous covering like the street-Arab amphibians below London Bridge.

From Wild Spain (Espa?a agreste) Records of Sport with Rifle, Rod, and Gun, Natural History Exploration by Buck, Walter J.