Eolian is an adjective used to describe things or processes relating to the wind. The term can be used to refer to either the study of wind or the actual physical process by which wind moves material. Eolian comes from the Greek word for wind, Aeolus.
The eolian process is responsible for many different geological features. One of the most well-known is sand dune formation. When strong winds blow across a sandy landscape, they pick up grains of sand and deposit them in piles. Over time, these piles can grow into large dunes.
Other eolian features include ventifacts (stones that have been sculpted by the wind) and yardangs (long, narrow ridges of rock formed by wind erosion). The vast majority of dust on Earth is also thought to be transported by the eolian process.