Turbid: Definition, Usage & Common Examples

Meaning 1：murky or cloudy (turbid)

turbid 🔊

/ˈtɜːrbɪd/

adj.

A liquid that is not clear because something like dirt, mud, or sand is mixed in it.

Turbid water illustration: A close-up of a muddy, cloudy river with suspended particles after a storm.

murky or cloudy 🔊

➕

/ˈmɜːrki ɔːr ˈklaʊdi/

adj.

Describes a liquid, especially water, that is opaque or cloudy because it contains stirred-up particles of mud, silt, or other matter.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'turbidus' meaning 'confused, disturbed', from 'turba' (turmoil, crowd).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a TURBINE stirring up water in a pond, making it TURBID (cloudy and murky).

📖 Example

After the heavy rain, the river became so turbid that you couldn't see the fish at all. 🔊 Following the storm, the river's water turned so murky that visibility for the fish was completely lost.

🔗 Collocations

turbid water – cloudy or murky water

turbid river – a river with low clarity due to suspended matter

highly turbid – very cloudy or opaque (describing a liquid)

🔄 Synonyms

murky (adj.) – Dark and dirty, not clear; often used interchangeably with turbid for liquids.

cloudy (adj.) – Not transparent or clear; the most general term for a liquid with reduced clarity.

muddy (adj.) – Full of or covered in mud; explicitly suggests the presence of wet earth.

🚫 Antonyms

clear (adj.) – Transparent and unclouded; allowing light to pass through easily.

transparent (adj.) – Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.

limpid (adj.) – (Of a liquid) completely clear and transparent.

🌱 Derivatives

turbidity (n.) – The quality or state of being turbid; cloudiness.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'turbid' entered English from Latin in the late 16th century, directly relating to the idea of disturbance and confusion. It is frequently used in environmental science and water quality reports to describe rivers, lakes, or reservoirs with high levels of suspended sediment, a key indicator of ecological health.