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Geographers had already noticed that rivers tend to avulse at the foot of mountains, where slopes change dramatically and sediment settles out, silting up the bed.
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Fred Pearce, Science | AAAS, 13 May 2021
Fred Pearce, Science | AAAS, 13 May 2021
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'avulse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Latin avulsus, past participle of avellere to tear off, from ab- + vellere to pluck — more at vulnerable
First Known Use
1734, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Avulse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/avulse. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
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