Delta

A deposit of sediment that forms where a stream enters a standing body of water such as a lake or ocean. The name is derived from the Greek letter “delta” because these deposits typically have a triangular shape in map view.

Related terms:

• bay delta
• arcuate delta
• ice-contact delta
• alluvial fan
• delta moraine
• morainal delta
• fan-shaped delta
• bird’s-foot delta
• bay-head delta
• delta plain