Word
sedimentary
Phoneticssed·i·men·ta·ry
US/ˌsɛdəˈmɛntɝi/
UK/sˌɛdɪmˈɛntəɹi/
Definition
adj. describing rock that forms from layers of sand, mud, or small pieces of stone that settle over time. These layers get pressed together until they become solid rock.
adj. relating to or formed by the accumulation of sediment, typically through the deposition of mineral or organic particles. Often used to describe geological processes involving pressure and time.
Examples
“The cliffs are made of sedimentary rock.”
“Geologists study sedimentary layers to understand the environmental conditions of the Earth millions of years ago.”
“The presence of sedimentary deposits in the valley suggests that a large river once flowed through the region, carrying silt that eventually hardened into sandstone.”
Examples
simple
“The cliffs are made of sedimentary rock.”
contextual
“Geologists study sedimentary layers to understand the environmental conditions of the Earth millions of years ago.”
complex
“The presence of sedimentary deposits in the valley suggests that a large river once flowed through the region, carrying silt that eventually hardened into sandstone.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before nouns like 'rock', 'layer', or 'deposit'.
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“Because dinosaur tracks can only be made and preserved in nonmarine, terrestrial sediments, most North American tracks are found in sedimentary rocks laid down by rivers that drained the Rocky Mountains.” “Again this is likely due to the amount of sedimentary material within the Granada Basin, making the ground less solid than in very rocky areas.” Etymology
From sediment + -ary.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/sedimentary