Sediment Definition, Usage & Key Examples

Meaning 1：settled matter (sediment)

sediment 🔊

/ˈsedɪmənt/

Stuff that sinks and collects at the bottom of a liquid, like mud or sand in water.

Sediment illustration showing settled sand and particles at the bottom of a glass jar of water.

settled matter 🔊

➕

/ˈsetld ˈmætər/

Solid material that has been carried by water or wind and deposited, typically at the bottom of a liquid body like a river, lake, or sea.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'sedimentum', related to 'sedēre' (to sit), meaning matter that settles down.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'SIT' in sediment. Particles SIT down at the bottom over time.

📖 Example

After the heavy rain, the stream was full of sediment, making the water look brown and cloudy. 🔊 Following the downpour, the stream contained a high amount of settled matter, causing the water to appear brown and murky.

🔗 Collocations

accumulate sediment – to gather or build up settled particles over time

deposit sediment – to leave or set down solid material from a moving fluid

remove sediment – to take away or clean out the settled material

🔄 Synonyms

deposit (n.) – A layer or mass of matter that has settled naturally

dregs (n.) – The remnants or last particles left at the bottom of a liquid, often undesirable

residue (n.) – The remaining solid matter after a process such as evaporation or filtration

🚫 Antonyms

suspension (n.) – A mixture where fine particles are dispersed but not settled in a fluid

🌱 Derivatives

sedimentary (adj.) – Relating to or formed from sediment

sedimentation (n.) – The process of settling or being deposited as sediment

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'sedimentum' (a settling), from 'sedēre' (to sit). In geology and environmental science, it refers to layers of material deposited over time, key to studying Earth's history.