: sand, soil, mud, etc., that is carried by flowing water and that sinks to the bottom of a river, pond, etc.
silts; silted; silting
1
: to become blocked, filled, or covered with silt
The marsh silted over.
—often + upThe river delta has silted up over the centuries.
2
: to block, fill, or cover (something) with silt
The entrance to the creek had silted shut.
heavily silted areas
—often + upSand had silted up the stream bed.
Cite this Entry
“Silt.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/silt. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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