vadose

enUK

va·dose

V0004700 (vā′dōs′)adj. Of, relating to, or being water that is located in the zone of aeration in the earth's crust above the groundwater level.
[Latin vadōsus, shallow, from vadum, a shallow, ford.]

vadose

(ˈveɪdəʊs) adj (Physical Geography) of, relating to, designating, or derived from water occurring above the water table: vadose water; vadose deposits. [C19: from Latin vadōsus full of shallows, from vadum a ford]

va•dose

(ˈveɪ doʊs)

adj. found or located above the water table: vadose water; vadose zone. [1895–1900; < Latin vadōsus shallow]