colluvium

[ kuh-loo-vee-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Geology.

, plural col·lu·vi·a [k, uh, -, loo, -vee-, uh], col·lu·vi·ums.

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.

colluvium

/ kəˈluːvɪəm /

noun

a mixture of rock fragments from the bases of cliffs

colluvium

/ kə-lo̅o̅′vē-əm /

, Plural colluviums

A loose deposit of rock debris accumulated through the action of rainwash or gravity at the base of a gently sloping cliff or slope.

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Derived Forms

colˈluvial, adjective

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Other Words From

col·luvi·al adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of colluvium¹

1935–40; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin colluv-, base of colluere to wash out ( collutory ) + -ium -ium, on the model of Latin alluvium alluvium, dīluvium deluge

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Word History and Origins

Origin of colluvium¹

Latin: collection of filth, from colluere to wash thoroughly, from com- (intensive) + luere to wash

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collutory colly

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