silt

American  

[silt] / sɪlt /

noun

1. earthy matter, fine sand, or the like carried by moving or running water and deposited as a sediment.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to become filled or choked up with silt.

verb (used with object)

1. to fill or choke up with silt.

silt British  

/ sɪlt /

noun

1. a fine deposit of mud, clay, etc, esp one in a river or lake

---

verb

1. (usually foll by up) to fill or become filled with silt; choke

silt Scientific  

/ sĭlt /

1. A sedimentary material consisting of grains or particles of disintegrated rock, smaller than sand and larger than clay. The diameter of the particles ranges from 0.0039 to 0.0625 mm. Silt is often found at the bottom of bodies of water where it accumulates slowly by settling through the water.

---

Other Word Forms

• desilt verb (used with object)
• siltation noun
• silty adjective

Etymology

Origin of silt

1400–50; late Middle English cylte gravel, perhaps originally salty deposit; compare Old English unsylt unsalted, unseasoned, sylting seasoning, syltan to salt, season, Norwegian sylt salty swamp, German Sülze salt marsh, brine

Example Sentences

Ms Maiklem has written four books about mudlarking, which was historically a trade of poor Victorians and is now a popular hobby involving unearthing historical artefacts from the silt on river banks.

From BBC

Then, ever so slowly and carefully, the world’s first successful combat submarine was lifted out of the silt and clay of the harbor bottom.

From Literature

Strong currents blew off any sand and silt, and what remained were slopes of bare, craggy rock.

From Literature

Premier Marinas, which owns Brighton Marina, has said dredging, which involves removing natural silts that settle in the marina basin, is needed to ensure safe navigation for boats.

From BBC

“I doubt if we make it to even 1 million,” Loomis admits, adding that he hopes to die in shallow silt so he can become a fossil too.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• residue
• sand