al·lu·vi·um ( -l  v -m)n. pl. al·lu·vi·ums or al·lu·vi·a (-v -) Sediment deposited by flowing water, as in a riverbed, flood plain, or delta. Also called alluvion. [Medieval Latin, flood, from neuter of Latin alluvius, alluvial, from alluere, to wash against; see alluvion.] |
alluvium [əˈluːvɪəm]
n pl -viums, -via [-vɪə]
(Earth Sciences / Geological Science) a fine-grained fertile soil consisting of mud, silt, and sand deposited by flowing water on flood plains, in river beds, and in estuaries
[from Latin; see alluvion]
| alluvium (-lv-m) Plural alluviums or alluvia 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. alluvial adjective |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  alluvium - clay or silt or gravel carried by rushing streams and deposited where the stream slows downdelta - a low triangular area of alluvial deposits where a river divides before entering a larger body of water; "the Mississippi River delta"; "the Nile delta" placer - an alluvial deposit that contains particles of some valuable mineral alluvial soil - a fine-grained fertile soil deposited by water flowing over flood plains or in river beds |
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