alluvion

American  

[uh-loo-vee-uhn] / əˈlu vi ən /

noun

1. Law. a gradual increase of land on a shore or a river bank by the action of water, whether from natural or artificial causes.

2. overflow; flood.

3. Now Rare. alluvium.

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alluvion British  

/ əˈluːvɪən /

noun

1. 1. the wash of the sea or of a river

   2. an overflow or flood

   3. matter deposited as sediment; alluvium

2. law the gradual formation of new land, as by the recession of the sea or deposit of sediment on a riverbed

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Etymology

Origin of alluvion

1530–40; < Latin alluviōn- (stem of alluviō an overflowing), equivalent to al- al- + -luv-, base of -luere, combining form of lavere to wash) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The land is an alluvion of no very ancient formation.

From The Quadroon Adventures in the Far West by Reid, Mayne

Finally, in the ravine called Ab-é-pardöma, I discovered in the alluvion some stone instruments presenting very ancient paleolithic characters.

From The American Journal of Archaeology, 1893-1 by Various

The changes of property in Bengal, by alluvion, are equally attended to.

From The Sailor's Word-Book An Alphabetical Digest of Nautical Terms, including Some More Especially Military and Scientific, but Useful to Seamen; as well as Archaisms of Early Voyagers, etc. by Belcher, Edward, Sir

Some of the mines exist in, and have been pursued beneath, this top alluvion, across the valleys.

From Scenes and Andventures in the Semi-Alpine Region of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas by Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe

The soil in the river valley is a rich black alluvion.

From Scenes and Andventures in the Semi-Alpine Region of the Ozark Mountains of Missouri and Arkansas by Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe