Sedimentation is the process, not the stuff. It is what happens when small pieces of rock, earth, or other solids slowly sink and form a layer at the bottom of the sea, a river, a lake, or even a tank of water.

Sedimentation沉積作用 is the process, not the stuff指的是一個「過程」，不是那些「東西」本身。 It is what happens它指的是這樣的情況 when small pieces of rock, earth, or other solids slowly sink當一小塊一小塊的岩石、泥土，或其他固體慢慢下沉 and而 form a layer at the bottom of the sea, a river, a lake, or even a tank of water在海底、河底、湖底，甚至一桶水的底部形成一層。

Over a very long time, that falling-and-piling can build the layers that later become sedimentary rock.

Over a very long time經過非常長的時間, that falling-and-piling can build the layers這種一直往下沉、往上堆的過程會累積出一層一層 that later become sedimentary rock之後變成沉積岩。

In a lab or a water plant, people also talk about sedimentation in a tank: you wait, the dirt falls, and you take the clearer water off the top. The word sounds scientific and a little formal.

In a lab or a water plant在實驗室或自來水廠, people also talk about sedimentation in a tank大家也會講水槽裡的沉積作用: you wait你就等著, the dirt falls讓髒東西沉下去, and而 you take the clearer water off the top把上面比較清的水取走。 The word sounds scientific and a little formal這個字聽起來很科學，也有點正式。

Easy way to hold the family: sediment is the pile, sedimentary describes the rock, sedimentation is the sinking itself.

Easy way to hold the family一個好記的方法: sediment is the pilesediment是那堆沉積物本身, sedimentary describes the rocksedimentary是用來形容那種岩石的形容詞, sedimentation is the sinking itselfsedimentation則是沉下去這個過程本身。