sediment

1 of 2

noun

sed·​i·​ment ˈse-də-mənt 

1

: the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid

2

: material deposited by water, wind, or glaciers

sediment

2 of 2

verb

sed·​i·​ment ˈse-də-ˌment 

sedimented; sedimenting; sediments

transitive verb

: to deposit as sediment

intransitive verb

1

: to settle to the bottom in a liquid

2

: to deposit sediment

Synonyms

Noun

• deposit
• deposition
• dregs
• grounds
• precipitate
• settlings

Verb

• lay
• settle

Examples of sediment in a Sentence

Noun

There was a layer of sediment in the bottom of the tank.

the sediment at the bottom of the river needs to be routinely dredged so that it doesn't interfere with barge traffic

Verb

the water flowing into the reservoir is sedimenting silt faster than was originally expected

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This land was stripped of its dense vegetation by miners scouring the subsoil for tiny specks of gold, using mercury to separate the gold from the sediment. —Simeon Tegel, NPR, 2 Apr. 2024

The cable is sometimes buried in seabed sediments in shallow waters for protection against fishing activities, anchors and natural events. —Robin Chataut, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024

Next was the water’s opacity: The thick sediment blinded Rambelli and Felipe, researchers at the Federal University of Sergipe, just feet beneath the surface. —Rafael Vilela, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024

Authorities said Medina was in scuba gear and a wet suit, cleaning sediment inside the tank with a 90-foot suction tube for about 45 minutes. —Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024

The Klamath River runs free through the former Iron Gate Reservoir, cutting through layers of sediment to find its course. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024

The barrel room lies under a train trestle, and every time one of BNSF Railroad’s trains pass through — some 25,000 times per year — the vibrations gently shake the barrels, which helps the sediment settle out. —Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024

When ice is not there to protect the eggs, strong winds and waves stir up the sediment and reduce the number of fish that hatch in the spring. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2024

This was the 8th excavation period for this shipwreck, located on a particularly treacherous incline that was – over time – causing the wreck to become covered in sediment, according to a March 22 news release from Greece’s Ministry of Culture. —Julia Daye, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024

Verb

The team observed the octopuses launch objects and sediment several body lengths away. —Corryn Wetzel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Sep. 2021

The cores, presented here today at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, were captured at the farthest extent of the ash’s reach, recorded as wisps of tephra in finely sedimented, ancient mud uplifted near the ocean floor. —Paul Voosen, Science | AAAS, 25 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin sedimentum settling, from sedēre to sit, sink down

First Known Use

Noun

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1859, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

sediment

noun

sed·​i·​ment

ˈsed-ə-mənt

1

: the material from a liquid that settles to the bottom

2

: material (as stones and sand) deposited by water, wind, or glaciers

sediment

-ˌment

verb

Medical Definition

sediment

1 of 2 noun

sed·​i·​ment ˈsed-ə-mənt 

: the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid

sediment

2 of 2 transitive verb

sed·​i·​ment -ˌment 

: to deposit as sediment

the synaptosomes were sedimented by centrifugation

intransitive verb

1

: to settle to the bottom in a liquid

let the red blood cells sediment for 30 minutes

2

: to deposit sediment