# sediment

/ˈsɛdəmənt/ (US) · /sˈɛdɪmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sediment
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. settled particles

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

solid material, such as sand or mud, that sinks to the bottom of a liquid.

For teachers: particulate matter that precipitates from a suspension and settles at the base of a liquid body.

- There was a thick layer of sediment at the bottom of the old wine bottle.
- The laboratory analysis revealed that the sediment contained high levels of heavy metals, suggesting recent industrial contamination upstream.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the substance generally; countable when referring to specific layers or types.

### 2. geological deposits

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

sand, stones, and mud carried by water or wind that eventually forms new land or rock.

For teachers: naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of wind, water, or ice.

- The river carries sediment from the mountains down to the sea.
- Over millions of years, the accumulation of river sediment in the delta created a vast, fertile plain suitable for intensive agriculture.

Usage: Often used in the context of erosion and rock formation.

### 3. to settle or deposit

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to sink to the bottom of a liquid and form a solid layer.

For teachers: to deposit or be deposited as a solid residue from a liquid suspension.

- The fine dust will eventually sediment if you leave the water still for a few hours.
- The mixture was left in the tank to sediment overnight before the clear liquid was siphoned off for the next stage of the process.

Usage: Can be used transitively (to sediment something) or intransitively (to sediment).

## Examples

- There was a layer of sediment at the bottom of the lake.
- The river carries heavy sediment downstream, which eventually builds up and creates new land in the delta.
- Geologists analyze layers of ancient sediment to understand how the local climate and sea levels have shifted over millions of years.

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