Matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid, or particles of rock, sand, and organic material deposited by water, wind, or ice. In geology, these accumulated materials form layers that can eventually become sedimentary rock.
From Latin 'sedimentum' meaning 'a settling', derived from 'sedere' meaning 'to sit'. The geological sense developed in the 18th century as understanding of rock formation processes advanced.
Sediments are like nature's filing system - each layer tells a story of ancient climates, catastrophes, and life forms, with some sedimentary rocks preserving fossils that are millions of years old. The Grand Canyon's colorful bands are actually sediment layers that accumulated over 2 billion years!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.