silt

Everyday

1. Fine sand, mud and soil carried by flowing water and left at the bottom of rivers, lakes or harbours. tree →
2. (verb) «Silt up» means to become blocked with silt. tree →

In the lessons

In geography and science lessons, rivers deposit silt on flood plains, making fertile farmland (as along the Nile). Silt grains are smaller than sand but bigger than clay. Phrases: silt deposits, silted up.

Examples

• The river left silt on the fields after the flood. tree →
• Silt makes the soil rich for farming. tree →
• The harbour silted up over time. tree →
• The water was brown with silt. tree →
• Silt is finer than sand. tree →
• Farmers by the Nile used the silt to grow crops. tree →

Note

Uncountable: some silt, not a silt. Do not confuse with «salt» or «slit».