ScienceSeptember 3, 2026

alluvial

uh-LOO-vee-ul

Definition

Relating to or consisting of clay, silt, sand, or gravel deposited by flowing water, typically in a riverbed or floodplain.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word 'alluvius', meaning 'washed against' or 'overflowing'. It entered English in the 17th century to describe geological deposits left behind by flowing water.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the plains of northern India, which were formed by sediment deposits from rivers. This indicates the vast, watery underground environments where the new eel species resides.

TikTok tip-off leads to discovery of new species of blind eel from underground borewell in Bihar

Read the full article ↗

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