sediment

[ noun sed-uh-muh nt; verb sed-uh-ment ]
/ noun ˈsɛd ə mənt; verb ˈsɛd əˌmɛnt /

noun

the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid; lees; dregs.
Geology. mineral or organic matter deposited by water, air, or ice.

verb (used with object)

to deposit as sediment.

verb (used without object)

to form or deposit sediment.

Origin of sediment

1540–50; < Latin sedimentum, equivalent to sedi- (combining form of sedēre to sit1, settle) + -mentum -ment

OTHER WORDS FROM sediment

sed·i·men·tous, adjective self-sed·i·ment·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH sediment

sand sediment silt

Example sentences from the Web for sediment

British Dictionary definitions for sediment

sediment
/ (ˈsɛdɪmənt) /

noun

matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid
material that has been deposited from water, ice, or wind

Derived forms of sediment

sedimentous (ˌsɛdɪˈmɛntəs), adjective

Word Origin for sediment

C16: from Latin sedimentum a settling, from sedēre to sit

Medical definitions for sediment

sediment
[ sĕdə-mənt ]

n.

Insoluble material that sinks to the bottom of a liquid, as in hypostasis.

Scientific definitions for sediment

sediment
[ sĕdə-mənt ]

Geology Solid fragmented material, such as silt, sand, gravel, chemical precipitates, and fossil fragments, that is transported and deposited by water, ice, or wind or that accumulates through chemical precipitation or secretion by organisms, and that forms layers on the Earth's surface. Sedimentary rocks consist of consolidated sediment.
Chemistry
Particles of solid matter that settle out of a suspension to the bottom of the liquid.