[kuh-loo-vee-uh
m] 
[-vee-uh] , -vi⋅ums. Geology. | loose earth material that has accumulated at the base of a hill, through the action of gravity, as piles of talus, avalanche debris, and sheets of detritus moved by soil creep or frost action. |
| col·lu·vi·um (kə-lōō'vē-əm) n. pl. col·lu·vi·ums or col·lu·vi·a (-vē-ə) A loose deposit of rock debris accumulated through the action of gravity at the base of a cliff or slope. [Latin, a collection of washings, dregs, from colluere, to wash thoroughly : com-, intensive pref.; see com- + -luere, to wash; see leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots.] col·lu'vi·al adj. |