colluvium

[ kuh-loo-vee-uhm ]

noun,plural col·lu·vi·a

[kuh-loo-vee-uh], /kəˈlu vi ə/, col·lu·vi·ums.Geology.

loose earth material that has accumulated at the base of a hill, through the action of gravity, as piles of talus, avalanche debris, and sheets of detritus moved by soil creep or frost action.

Origin of colluvium

1935–40; <New Latin, equivalent to Latin colluv-, base of colluere to wash out (see collutory) + -ium-ium, on the model of Latin alluviumalluvium, dīluviumdeluge

Other words from colluvium

col·lu·vi·al, adjective

Words Nearby colluvium

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British Dictionary definitions for colluvium

colluvium

/ (kəˈluːvɪəm) /

nounplural -via (-vɪə) or -viums

a mixture of rock fragments from the bases of cliffs

Origin of colluvium

Latin: collection of filth, from colluere to wash thoroughly, from com- (intensive) + luere to wash

Derived forms of colluvium

colluvial, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for colluvium

colluvium

[ kə-lōō′vē-əm ]

Plural colluviums colluvia

A loose deposit of rock debris accumulated through the action of rainwash or gravity at the base of a gently sloping cliff or slope.

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