sedimentary
sedimentary Lexical Profile
sedimentary Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Of, relating to, or formed by the deposition and consolidation of mineral or organic particles that have settled from water, wind, or ice (especially of rock).
"Sandstone and limestone are common sedimentary rocks that often preserve ancient fossils within their distinct layers."
Having the nature of or consisting of matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
"The old wine bottle had a thick sedimentary layer resting at the bottom."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'sedimentary' (relating to rock or matter formed by the deposition of sediment) with 'sedentary' (characterized by much sitting and little physical exercise), though both derive from the same Latin root meaning 'to sit'.
• Rhymes for sedimentary
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 19th century, borrowed from French 'sédimentaire', from Latin 'sedimentum' ('a settling' or 'sinking down'), which derives from the verb 'sedēre' ('to sit' or 'to settle').