effluvium

ef·flu·vi·um

noun \e-ˈflü-vē-əm\

plural ef·flu·via also ef·flu·vi·ums

Definition of EFFLUVIUM

1

: an invisible emanation; especially : an offensive exhalation or smell

2

: a by-product especially in the form of waste

Variants of EFFLUVIUM

ef·flu·vi·um also ef·flu·via \-vē-ə\

Examples of EFFLUVIUM

1. <the effluvia from local sewage treatment plants polluting the river>

Origin of EFFLUVIUM

Latin effluvium act of flowing out, from effluere

First Known Use: 1651

Related to EFFLUVIUM

Synonyms: chaff, deadwood, debris, dreck (also drek), dross, dust, garbage (also effluvia), junk, litter, offal, offscouring, raffle, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, spilth, trash, truck, waste

Related Words: crud, sewage, slop, swill, wash; detritus, remains, rubble, ruins; dump, scrap heap; lumber, odds and ends, trumpery; flotsam, jetsam, wreckage; castoff, cull, discard, hand-me-down, reject, throwaway; nothing, straw, two bits

Near Antonyms: catch, gem, goody (or goodie), jewel, pearl, plum, prize, treasure, treasure trove, trove, valuable; booty, find, salvage

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Rhymes with EFFLUVIUM

alluvium, colluvium