subsidence
noun /səbˈsaɪdns/, /ˈsʌbsɪdns/
/səbˈsaɪdns/, /ˈsʌbsɪdns/
[uncountable]- the process by which an area of land sinks to a lower level than normal, or by which a building sinks into the ground
- The houses in this area are liable to subsidence.
- The buildings were insured against fire, subsidence and earthquakes.
- The roots of the trees are causing subsidence damage to the building.
- The road was closed because of subsidence.
- A number of houses had suffered from subsidence.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- rapid
- slow
- suffer from
- occur
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin subsidentia ‘sediment’, from the verb subsidere, from sub- ‘below’ + sidere ‘settle’ (related to sedere ‘sit’).