sediment

[ noun sed-uh-muhnt; verb sed-uh-ment ]

noun

1. the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; lees; dregs.
2. Geology. mineral or organic matter deposited by water, air, or ice.

verb (used with object)

1. to deposit as sediment.

verb (used without object)

1. to form or deposit sediment.

sediment

/ ˌsɛdɪˈmɛntəs; ˈsɛdɪmənt /

noun

1. matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid
2. material that has been deposited from water, ice, or wind

sediment

/ sĕd′ə-mənt /

1. Geology.
   Solid fragmented material, such as silt, sand, gravel, chemical precipitates, and fossil fragments, that is transported and deposited by water, ice, or wind or that accumulates through chemical precipitation or secretion by organisms, and that forms layers on the Earth's surface. Sedimentary rocks consist of consolidated sediment.
2. Particles of solid matter that settle out of a suspension to the bottom of the liquid.

Derived Forms

• sedimentous, adjective

Other Words From

• sedi·mentous adjective
• self-sedi·mented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sediment¹

1540–50; < Latin sedimentum, equivalent to sedi- (combining form of sedēre to sit ¹, settle) + -mentum -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of sediment¹

C16: from Latin sedimentum a settling, from sedēre to sit

Example Sentences

In the “after” photographs of the location, a mark is visible on the glacier - left by the sediment that the giant wave hurled upwards.

From BBC

Be sure to strain liquor for bits of sediment.

From Salon

It washed away thousands of feet of water lines, wiped out roads leading to treatment plants, and churned up sediment in reservoirs.

From Slate

Now, though, it has been discovered lying face up in the sediment in the debris field.

From BBC

They also relied on panning - the washing of sediment through a sieve so the gold settles at the bottom.

From BBC

Related Words

• debris
• powder
• silt
• trash
• waste