The process by which sediment particles that have a certain characteristic, such as a given shape or grain size, are separated from other associated particles by an active agent of transportation, such as wind, a stream, or a glacier. A measure of the degree to which this process has occurred within a body of sediment.
punitive adjective. âº formal or specialized law âintended as a âpunishment: punitive âaction The UN has âimposed punitive âsanctions on the âinvading âcountry. She is âsuing the ânewspaper for $5 million punitive âdamages, âclaiming they âknew the âarticle about her was âuntrue.
Although the purpose of punitive damages is not to compensate the plaintiff, the plaintiff will receive all or some portion of the punitive damage award. Punitive damages are often awarded where compensatory damages are deemed an inadequate remedy.he Court held that punitive damages must be reasonable, as determined by the degree of reprehensibility of the conduct that caused the plaintiff's injury, the ratio of punitive damages to compensatory damages, and any comparable criminal or civil penalties applicable to the conduct.