deposition

Everyday

1. (science, geography) Deposition is when wind, water or ice drops sand, mud or stones it was carrying, building up new land such as beaches and deltas. tree →
2. (law) A deposition is a statement made under oath, written down to be used in court. tree →
3. (formal) Deposition is removing a ruler or leader from power. tree →
4. (science) Deposition is when a gas turns straight into a solid, like frost forming. tree →

In the lessons

In geography lessons, rivers and the sea erode in one place and deposit material in another: deposition forms beaches, spits, deltas and floodplains. In chemistry, frost forming from water vapour is deposition, the opposite of sublimation. In law and history lessons, a deposition is sworn evidence, and the deposition of a king is his overthrow.

Examples

• Deposition at the river mouth formed a delta. tree →
• Waves cause deposition of sand on the beach. tree →
• A spit is made by deposition along the coast. tree →
• Frost on the window is an example of deposition. tree →
• The witness gave a deposition to the lawyers. (law) tree →
• The deposition of the king led to a new government. (formal) tree →

Note

Usually uncountable in science. Related verb: deposit (drop, leave). In geography, the order is erosion, transportation, deposition. A formal school word.