sedimentation
Americannoun
noun
-
the process of formation of sedimentary rocks
-
the deposition or production of sediment
-
chem biochem the process by which large molecules or macroscopic particles are concentrated in a centrifugal field in a centrifuge or ultracentrifuge
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sedimentation
Explanation
The process of particles settling to the bottom of a body of water is called sedimentation. In lakes and rivers, sedimentation can sometimes cause problems for the organisms living there. The best thing about sedimentation is that it can tell geologists a lot about lakes, rivers, and rocky areas from the clues it leaves behind. Layers of sediment in rocks from past sedimentation show the action of currents, reveal fossils, and give evidence of human activity. Sedimentation can be traced back to the Latin sedimentum, "a settling or a sinking down."
Vocabulary lists containing sedimentation
Plate Tectonics - Middle School
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!
Plate Tectonics - Introductory
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!
Earth Science - Middle School
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.
Using Helium-3 data from six K/Pg boundary locations in Europe, North Africa, and the Gulf of Mexico, the team calculated improved sedimentation rates.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 15, 2026
According to Jean-Paul Raynal, who co-directed the program during the key excavation period, repeated changes in sea level, wind-driven sedimentation, and rapid cementation of coastal sands created ideal conditions for preserving fossils and archaeological evidence.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 7, 2026
“If we have a really hot fire that cooks the vegetation that holds the soil together, we could have increased sedimentation, debris and ash flow,” Johnson said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2024
For example, all five of the plant’s primary sedimentation tanks, which remove solids from wastewater, had been out of commission since March 2023.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2024
The clay for the potter was doubtless prepared by a system of sedimentation, so as to get rid of all coarse particles.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various
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.
