creekbed
Where water carved
A creekbed is the channel carved by a creek—the bottom and sides where water flows or once flowed.
In dry seasons or arid regions, creekbeds may be empty, showing only rocks and sand: We hiked along the dry creekbed.
Also spelled creek bed.
Loose small rock fragments
- cobblesRounded paving stones
- alluviumWater-deposited loose sediment
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
- shaleCompacted clay sediment
sediment · strata · boulders · limestone · claystone · mudstone · fossils · deposition
Extremely dry or thirsty
- crackedHaving surface fractures
- dustyCoated with fine particles
- sunbakedDried by solar heat
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
barren · seasonal · intermittent · exposed · desiccated · arid · desolate · waterless
Clean by hard rubbing
- washoutComplete failure or cancellation
- undercuttingCharging less than rivals
- gullyChannel carved by flowing water
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
weathering · runoff · degradation · siltation · abrasion · deposition · cutbank · downcutting
Steady continuous flow
- brookSmall flowing watercourse
- rivuletVery small stream
- channelPassage for transmission
- tributaryStream entering larger river
flow · meander · confluence · headwaters · watershed · drainage · spring · ford
Relating to riverbanks
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- amphibiansVertebrates with aquatic larvae
- crayfishFreshwater pinching crustacean
- invertebratesAnimals without vertebral columns
algae · salamander · tadpoles · minnows · biodiversity · microhabitats · flora · fauna
gravel
Loose small rock fragments
shale · sediment · strata · boulders · limestone · claystone · mudstone · fossils · deposition · layering
parched
Extremely dry or thirsty
drought · barren · seasonal · intermittent · exposed · desiccated · arid · desolate · waterless · empty
scour
Clean by hard rubbing
- washoutComplete failure or cancellation
- undercuttingCharging less than rivals
- gullyChannel carved by flowing water
sediment · weathering · runoff · degradation · siltation · abrasion · deposition · cutbank · downcutting · incision
stream
Steady continuous flow
tributary · flow · meander · confluence · headwaters · watershed · drainage · spring · ford · freshwater
riparian
Relating to riverbanks
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- amphibiansVertebrates with aquatic larvae
- crayfishFreshwater pinching crustacean
invertebrates · algae · salamander · tadpoles · minnows · biodiversity · microhabitats · flora · fauna · wetlands
creekbedstream
Steady continuous flow
creek · current · flow · running water · streamflow
creekbedwater surface
Liquid's exposed face
creek bank · streambank · waterline · bank