silt

[silt]

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

/ 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

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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of silt¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of silt¹

C15: of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian, Danish sylt salt marsh; related to Old High German sulza salt marsh; see _salt

Example Sentences

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

The naturalist's latest documentary Ocean With David Attenborough showed new footage of a bottom trawling net bulldozing through silt on the seafloor and scooping up species indiscriminately.

From BBC

However, it could now flush silt from its reservoirs without prior warning - potentially causing damage downstream in Pakistan.

From BBC

Regional Water Quality Control Board found that the charred silt does not contain wildfire-related chemicals at levels considered to be dangerous to human health, the health department concluded.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• residue 
• sand