mudflow

[ muhd-floh ]
/ ˈmʌdˌfloʊ /

noun Geology.

a flow of mixed earth debris containing a large amount of water.
the dried-out product of such a flow.

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Also called mud slide, mud·spate [muhd-speyt]. /ˈmʌdˌspeɪt/.

Origin of mudflow

First recorded in 1900–05; mud + flow

Words nearby mudflow

mudeye, mudfat, mud fever, mudfish, mud flat, mudflow, mud gecko, mudguard, mud hen, mudhole, mudir
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for mudflow

mudflow
/ (ˈmʌdˌfləʊ) /

noun

geology a flow of soil or fine-grained sediment mixed with water down a steep unstable slope
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 mudflow

mudflow
[ mŭd′flō′ ]

A downhill movement of soft, wet, unconsolidated earth and debris, made fluid by rain or melted snow and often building up great speed.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.