delta
UK: ˈdɛltə | US: ˈdɛltə
n. the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet (Δ, δ)
n. a landform shaped like a triangle at the mouth of a river, formed by deposited sediment
n. (mathematics) a finite increment in a variable, often denoted by Δ
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The word "delta" comes directly from the Greek letter Δ (delta), which was named after its triangular shape. The Greeks borrowed the letter from the Phoenician alphabet, where it originally represented a door (dalet). Over time, the term was adopted in geography to describe triangular river mouths due to their resemblance to the uppercase Greek letter Δ. The mathematical usage (denoting change) emerged later, leveraging Δ as a symbolic shorthand.
The Nile Delta is one of the most fertile regions in Egypt.
In physics, Δv represents a change in velocity.
The Greek letter delta is used to symbolize difference in equations.
Sediment deposition formed a vast delta where the river meets the sea.
The pilot announced we were flying over the Mississippi River delta.