erosion-control
|e-ro-sion-con-trol|
🇺🇸
/ɪˈroʊʒən kənˈtroʊl/
🇬🇧
/ɪˈrəʊʒən kənˈtrəʊl/
preventing soil loss
Etymology
'erosion-control' is a modern English compound formed from 'erosion' + 'control'. 'erosion' ultimately originates from Latin 'erodere' meaning 'to gnaw away' (via Old French 'erosion'), and 'control' originates from Old French 'contre-rolle' (literally 'counter-roll') via Medieval Latin, originally referring to a register or roll.
'erosion' passed from Latin 'erodere' into Old French as 'erosion' and then into Middle English as 'erosion'. 'control' developed from Old French 'contre-rolle' (a compound meaning 'against the roll'—a counter-register), entered Middle English as 'contre+rolle' and later became modern English 'control'. The compound 'erosion control' (often hyphenated as 'erosion-control') arose in technical and engineering usage in modern English to name practices that limit erosion.
Initially, 'erodere' described the physical action 'to gnaw away' and 'control' referred to a register or checking action; over time 'control' shifted to the sense 'to restrain or manage'. Combined, the modern term came to mean 'methods or measures to restrain or prevent erosion.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
measures, structures, or practices designed to prevent or reduce the removal of soil by water, wind, or other natural forces.
The farmers implemented erosion-control measures along the riverbank after the heavy rains.
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Adjective 1
describing products, methods, or measures intended to prevent or reduce erosion (used attributively).
Erosion-control blankets were laid on the newly planted slope to protect it from runoff.
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Last updated: 2025/10/27 09:36