verb
- to convert into or become laterite (a reddish or brownish soil or clay formed by weathering of rocks in tropical regions)
Usage: geology; soil science
Examples
- Heavy rainfall in tropical regions causes rocks to laterize over time.
- The soil began to laterize as iron oxides accumulated through weathering.
- Laterized soils are common in equatorial Africa and Southeast Asia.
- The bedrock laterizes when exposed to intense heat and moisture.
- Farmers must account for laterized soil conditions when planning crops in tropical areas.