deposition

Compared meaning: a layer of matter left behind (noun).

比较义项：沉积层／沉积物（名词）。

• deposit

  The common, general word for a layer or mass of solid matter left behind by water, wind, or other natural forces; used freely in everyday and scientific writing, and often paired with ore, mineral, or silt.

  这是通用词，指由水、风等自然力量留下的一层或一堆固体物质；在日常和科学写作中都常用，常与ore（矿石）、mineral（矿物）、silt（淤泥）等词搭配。

  The river left a deposit of fine silt along the bank after the flood.

  洪水过后，河流在岸边留下了一层细腻的淤泥沉积物。

• deposition 本词

  A more formal, technical term favoured in geology and chemistry, emphasizing the gradual process of layers building up over time; deposition also has an unrelated everyday sense, a witness's legal testimony, not used here.

  这是更正式、专业的说法，常见于地质学和化学语境，强调物质逐渐堆积形成层的“过程”；deposition还有一个与此无关的日常义项——法庭上证人的“证词”，此处不作比较。

  Centuries of mineral deposition formed the cave's glittering walls.

  数百年的矿物沉积作用形成了这个洞穴闪闪发光的岩壁。

Deposit and deposition both name a layer of matter left behind. Deposit is the common word for a mineral layer, used in science and writing. Deposition is formal, common in geology, and stresses the forming process. Deposit means 'down payment'; deposition can mean legal testimony.

这两个词在“沉积物、沉积层”这一义项上意思相近，但deposit是日常及科学文本中通用的词，指具体的一层沉积物或矿藏；deposition更偏正式、专业，常见于地质学、化学语境，强调沉积“过程”或由此形成的层。这里不比较deposit的“押金、定金”义，也不比较deposition的“（法庭）证词”义。