alluvial
Americanadjective
noun
-
alluvial soil.
-
Australia. gold-bearing alluvial soil.
adjective
noun
-
another name for alluvium
-
alluvium containing any heavy mineral, esp gold
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of alluvial
First recorded in 1795–1805; alluvi(um) + -al 1
Explanation
Alluvial refers to the stuff left behind by running water. Think of a city in the aftermath of a flood — streets littered with things that had once been floating — tree branches, parts of buildings, and lots of sand and silt. Alluvial comes from the Latin word for washed, but the stuff water leaves behind doesn't often feel clean. In fact, the word is so closely associated with leftover debris that its meaning goes beyond flooding. If you have a party when your parents are out of town, you’d better get up early and clean up all the alluvial evidence.
Vocabulary lists containing alluvial
Water Hazard: Words for Too Much Moisture
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Canada - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Cosmos
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Because Sardis sits on an alluvial plain, some trenches extend as much as 12 meters underground.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 25, 2026
In Hatay, the worst-hit province, many settlements there were built on risky alluvial ground.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 5, 2024
“The weaker alluvial sediments can amplify shaking, and mountains are vulnerable to landsliding, including along the roads that lead to mountain villages.”
From National Geographic ● Sep. 11, 2023
Whereas the unpredictable flooding of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in southern Mesopotamia commonly brought destruction along with fresh alluvial deposits, the Nile’s summer flooding, predictable as clockwork, brought only welcome deposits of rich sediment.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
The soil around Manzanar is alluvial and very rich.
From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
