aquitard
|a-qui-tard|
🇺🇸
/ˈæk.wɪˌtɑrd/
🇬🇧
/ˈæk.wɪtɑːd/
layer that slows water
Etymology
'aquitard' originates from Latin 'aqua' meaning 'water' combined with French/Latin-derived 'tard' (from Latin 'tardus') meaning 'slow' or 'late'.
'aquitard' was formed in technical English by blending the combining form 'aqui-' (from Latin 'aqua') with 'tard', likely influenced by related hydrogeological terms such as 'aquifer' and 'aquiclude', and came into use in the 20th century in hydrogeology.
Initially coined to convey the idea of a 'water-slowing' layer, its usage stabilized to mean specifically a low-permeability geological unit that restricts but does not entirely block groundwater flow.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a geological layer or formation of low permeability that significantly restricts but does not completely prevent the flow of groundwater; a semipermeable confining unit.
The clay layer acted as an aquitard, slowing the downward movement of groundwater into the deeper aquifer.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/30 11:16