Silt

/sɪlt/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A fine sediment composed of mineral particles smaller than sand but larger than clay, typically found in soil or sediments.

The riverbank was lined with silt, making it fertile for planting crops.

Material that is carried by a river or current and deposited where the water slows down.

The silt from the flooded river enriched the nearby fields.

The accumulation of such fine particles in a body of water, which can affect aquatic life and water quality.

Excess silt in the lake led to decreased oxygen levels, harming the fish population.

A natural resource used in construction and agriculture that helps retain moisture in soil.

Farmers often use silt to improve the water retention of their sandy soils.

Middle English, from Old English 'silt', akin to Dutch 'silt' meaning 'mud'.

silt up

To become blocked or choked with silt.

sediment

Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.

mud

Soft, wet earth that is made up of water, soil, and silt.

To be burdened or weighed down

I feel silted by all this extra work.