Definition

Describing soil or sediment that contains a significant amount of fine particles, making it smooth and soft.

Example

The riverbank was covered in silty soil, perfect for growing plants.

Conversation

Have you noticed how silty the riverbank looks after the rain?

Yeah, it really changes the scenery, doesn't it?

I wonder if that affects the fish in the water.

It might! They usually prefer less silty environments.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Silty** → The word 'silty' is derived from 'silt' (from Old English *silt*, meaning fine sand or sediment) and the suffix '-y' (meaning characterized by). Thus, 'silty' describes something that is characterized by the presence of silt or fine sediment.

Memory Tip

Think of 'silt' as fine particles in soil, and remember that 'silty' means something that has a lot of those fine particles.

Visually Confused Words