What does sedimentary mean?
Definitions for sedimentary
ˌsɛd əˈmɛn tə rised·i·men·ta·ry
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word sedimentary.
Princeton's WordNet
sedimentaryadjective
resembling or containing or formed by the accumulation of sediment
"sedimentary deposits"
aqueous, sedimentaryadjective
produced by the action of water
Wiktionary
sedimentaryadjective
A form of rock made by the deposition and compression of small particles.
Etymology: From Latin sedere, to sit.
Wikipedia
sedimentary
Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of mineral or organic particles at Earth's surface, followed by cementation. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause these particles to settle in place. The particles that form a sedimentary rock are called sediment, and may be composed of geological detritus (minerals) or biological detritus (organic matter). The geological detritus originated from weathering and erosion of existing rocks, or from the solidification of molten lava blobs erupted by volcanoes. The geological detritus is transported to the place of deposition by water, wind, ice or mass movement, which are called agents of denudation. Biological detritus was formed by bodies and parts (mainly shells) of dead aquatic organisms, as well as their fecal mass, suspended in water and slowly piling up on the floor of water bodies (marine snow). Sedimentation may also occur as dissolved minerals precipitate from water solution. The sedimentary rock cover of the continents of the Earth's crust is extensive (73% of the Earth's current land surface), but sedimentary rock is estimated to be only 8% of the volume of the crust. Sedimentary rocks are only a thin veneer over a crust consisting mainly of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Sedimentary rocks are deposited in layers as strata, forming a structure called bedding. Sedimentary rocks are often deposited in large structures called sedimentary basins. Sedimentary rocks have also been found on Mars. The study of sedimentary rocks and rock strata provides information about the subsurface that is useful for civil engineering, for example in the construction of roads, houses, tunnels, canals or other structures. Sedimentary rocks are also important sources of natural resources including coal, fossil fuels, drinking water and ores. The study of the sequence of sedimentary rock strata is the main source for an understanding of the Earth's history, including palaeogeography, paleoclimatology and the history of life. The scientific discipline that studies the properties and origin of sedimentary rocks is called sedimentology. Sedimentology is part of both geology and physical geography and overlaps partly with other disciplines in the Earth sciences, such as pedology, geomorphology, geochemistry and structural geology.
ChatGPT
sedimentary
Sedimentary refers to a type of rock that has formed over time through the accumulation and hardening of sediment, like minerals, organic materials, or particles eroded from other rocks. This process, known as sedimentation, typically occurs in bodies of water or areas where water was once present. The term can also refer to anything involving or pertaining to sediment or the process of sedimentation.
Webster Dictionary
Sedimentaryadjective
of or pertaining to sediment; formed by sediment; containing matter that has subsided
Etymology: [Cf. F. sdimentaire.]
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of sedimentary in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of sedimentary in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7
Examples of sedimentary in a Sentence
In the distant past, the sand, mud, and salts that now make up the Wildcat Ridge sample were deposited under conditions where life could potentially have thrived, the fact the organic matter was found in such a sedimentary rock -- known for preserving fossils of ancient life here on Earth -- is important. However, as capable as our instruments aboard Perseverance are, further conclusions regarding what is contained in the Wildcat Ridge sample will have to wait until it's returned to Earth for in-depth study as part of the agency's Mars Sample Return campaign.
Despite being buried beneath nearly a kilometer of sedimentary rocks, it is remarkable that geophysical data reveals so much about the crater structure — enough to describe the direction and angle of the impact.
We have a rock formation that is basically composed of sedimentary rocks, so these are rocks that naturally have a much lower resistance to the action of winds, water, and the natural elements that act on the region.
Changes in land use leave tell-tale traces in sedimentary deposits that can be measured. Measuring these traces in drill-cores allows us to reconstruct what people were doing in the landscape over long periods of time.
The delta, with its diverse sedimentary rocks, contrasts beautifully with the igneous rocks -- formed from crystallization of magma -- discovered on the crater floor, this juxtaposition provides us with a rich understanding of the geologic history after the crater formed and a diverse sample suite. For example, we found a sandstone that carries grains and rock fragments created far from Jezero Crater.
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"sedimentary." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 16 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/sedimentary>.
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