Definition

Material like clay, silt, sand, or gravel that is carried and deposited by flowing water, often found in places like riverbeds or floodplains.

Example

Farmers often rely on alluvium to enrich their fields with nutrients after floods.

Conversation

Have you ever seen the layers of alluvium by the riverbank?

Yeah, it's fascinating how it builds up over time.

I read that it can tell us a lot about the area’s history.

Definitely! It's like nature's own record of what happened.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Alluvium is derived from the Latin word "alluvio" (meaning a wash or flood), which comes from "ad-" (meaning to) and "luere" (meaning to wash). The term refers to sediment deposited by flowing water, typically in riverbeds or floodplains.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'wash' ('luere') as water flowing 'to' ('ad-') a place, which helps you remember that alluvium is sediment washed in by water.

Visually Confused Words