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noun

silt

sihlt

Silt (noun) means Fine particles of soil or mud carried and deposited by moving water. Example: “Years of silt had built up at the mouth of the river.”

noun
1
Fine particles of soil or mud carried and deposited by moving water.
"Years of silt had built up at the mouth of the river."
verb
1
To become clogged or filled up with silt.
"The harbor slowly silted up until boats could no longer reach the dock."

How to use silt

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFine mud or sediment left behind by flowing water.

Common pairings
silt up river silt layer of silt

Word forms

silted past tense, silts plural, silts singular

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Years of _____ had built up at the mouth of the river.

Etymology

From Middle English silte, possibly related to a verb meaning "to filter or strain," and to Germanic words for a salty marsh.

Origin: Middle English

silt up

Rhymes for silt

See all rhymes for silt →

Frequently asked questions

What does “silt” mean?

The word “silt” means fine particles of soil or mud carried and deposited by moving water. In plain terms, fine mud or sediment left behind by flowing water.

How do you pronounce “silt”?

“Silt” is pronounced sihlt (/sɪlt/ in IPA).

How do you use “silt” in a sentence?

Here is “silt” used in a sentence: “Years of silt had built up at the mouth of the river.”

What part of speech is “silt”?

Depending on how it is used, “silt” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “silt” come from?

The word “silt” comes from Middle English. From Middle English silte, possibly related to a verb meaning "to filter or strain," and to Germanic words for a salty marsh.

How many meanings does “silt” have?

“Silt” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: fine particles of soil or mud carried and deposited by moving water.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial