kayma

Kayma is a term of Turkish origin that broadly denotes slipping, sliding, or drift. In everyday Turkish, it can describe the physical movement of a surface sliding relative to another, and in technical contexts it refers to shear or lateral displacement of materials under stress. In geology and engineering, kayma is used to describe movement along a plane within rocks or soils, a concept related to, but distinct from, more specific terms for landslides such as heyelan.

Beyond physical movement, kayma is used metaphorically to describe gradual or covert shifts in ideas, practices, or social norms. For example, discussions of cultural or political kayma refer to slow drifts rather than abrupt change.

As an onomastic element, kayma appears as a surname in Turkish-speaking communities. It is also found in some toponymic forms in regions where Turkic languages are spoken, though the name’s presence is relatively uncommon and varies by locale.

In summary, kayma denotes sliding or drifting as a physical process, a metaphor for gradual change, and a proper name in some Turkic-speaking contexts. For precise usage, consulting Turkish dictionaries or technical literature in geology and engineering is recommended.