alluvial

[ uh-loo-vee-uhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to alluvium.

noun

1. alluvial soil.
2. Australia. gold-bearing alluvial soil.

alluvial

/ əˈluːvɪəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to alluvium

noun

1. another name for alluvium
2. alluvium containing any heavy mineral, esp gold

Other Words From

• nonal·luvi·al adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of alluvial¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; alluvi(um) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Large mining companies use high-tech methods for open-pit and underground mining, whereas alluvial mining is done by hand and may be unregulated.

From Popular-Science

The ground was fertile, with alluvial, or unconsolidated, soil.

From The Daily Beast

In the valleys the land is a deep alluvial loam, easily worked, producing bountiful crops of the finest leaf tobacco.

From Project Gutenberg

The Pryor makes the heaviest, richest shipping, and can only be grown to perfection on alluvial or heavily manured lands.

From Project Gutenberg

As the alluvial deposit is laid down, a good deal of vegetable matter was built into it.

From Project Gutenberg

At the same time the alluvial materials, building out to sea, thus diminish the slope of the stream.

From Project Gutenberg

Since then alluvial plains have filled this estuary to even beyond the original mouth.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• carnal
• mundane
• physical
• temporal
• terrestrial
• worldly