sedimentation
Americannoun
noun
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the process of formation of sedimentary rocks
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the deposition or production of sediment
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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
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Plate Tectonics - Introductory
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Earth Science - Middle School
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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 of this, relying only on sedimentation rates made it difficult to determine the true ages of tiny fossils preserved in these layers.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 15, 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
Its existence is thought to be threatened by sedimentation, wildfires, and human developments.
From Science Daily ● May 8, 2024
In addition to the above broad subdivisions, Murchison and Sedgwick, when working upon the rocks of Devonshire and Cornwall, recognized, with the assistance of W. Lonsdale, another phase of sedimentation.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various
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