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.
A reduction in either the quantity or quality of a punishment; for example, a punishment of correctional custody for 20 days reduced to 10 days or to restriction for 20 days, however, a mitigation of 10 days of correctional custody to 14 days of restriction would not be permitted, because the quantity is increased.