mudflow

[ muhd-floh ]

noun

, Geology.

1. a flow of mixed earth debris containing a large amount of water.
2. the dried-out product of such a flow.

mudflow

/ ˈmʌdˌfləʊ /

noun

1. geology a flow of soil or fine-grained sediment mixed with water down a steep unstable slope

mudflow

/ mŭd′flō′ /

1. A downhill movement of soft, wet, unconsolidated earth and debris, made fluid by rain or melted snow and often building up great speed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mudflow¹

First recorded in 1900–05; mud + flow

Example Sentences

Devastation from the eruption covered 150 square miles with volcanic mudflow, blocks of shattered rock and volcanic debris and sediment in river channels.

From Seattle Times

Southern California Edison has agreed to pay $80 million to cover costs and damages from the 2017 Thomas fire, a massive blaze in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties that killed two people and later triggered a massive mudflow that resulted in 23 deaths.

From Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Works issued a mudflow alert for homes in the burn scar of the 2020 Ranch 2 Fire.

From Los Angeles Times

If water is picking up mud and debris and moving it into a home, that’s a mudflow in insurers’ books.

From Los Angeles Times

The scientists suspect they were suddenly engulfed in a volcanic mudflow and buried alive during mortal combat.

From Reuters