Main Entry: loess

Pronunciation: \ˈles, ˈləs, ˈlō-əs, ˈlərs\

Function: noun

Etymology: German Löss

Date: 1833

: an unstratified usually buff to yellowish brown loamy deposit found in North America, Europe, and Asia and believed to be chiefly deposited by the wind

— loess·ial \ˈle-sē-əl, ˈlə-, lō-ˈe-, ˈlər-\ adjective