terrigenous

[ te-rij-uh-nuhs ]

adjective

1. produced by the earth.
2. Geology. noting or pertaining to sediments on the sea bottom derived directly from the neighboring land, or to the rocks formed primarily by the consolidation of such sediments.

terrigenous

/ tɛˈrɪdʒɪnəs /

adjective

1. of or produced by the earth
2. (of geological deposits) formed in the sea from material derived from the land by erosion

terrigenous

/ tĕ-rĭj′ə-nəs /

1. Derived from the land, especially by erosive action. Used primarily of shallow marine sediments.

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrigenous¹

1675–85; < Latin terrigenus, equivalent to terr ( a ) earth + -i- -i- + -genus -genous

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrigenous¹

C17: from Latin terrigenus, from terra earth + gignere to beget

Example Sentences

The specimen brought up was a terrigenous blue mud (glacial deposit) with some radiolaria.

From Project Gutenberg

And thus there are vast regions of the oceanic depressions over which no terrigenous or land-derived materials are accumulating.

From Project Gutenberg