How does till differ from glacial outwash?

The primary difference between till and glacial outwash lies in the method of deposition and the resulting physical characteristics of the material.

• Till: This material is deposited directly by the ice as a glacier melts or moves. Because it is laid down without the sorting action of water, it is typically a non-stratified, chaotic mixture of rock fragments, boulders, and fine-grained sandy or muddy matrix. Till often contains rocks that exhibit striations, facets, or grooves from being dragged along the glacier bed.1
• Glacial Outwash: This is stratified drift deposited by meltwater streams flowing from a glacier. Unlike till, outwash is generally bedded or laminated, with particles sorted by size according to the velocity of the water. Because the material is transported by water, the gravels and boulders are typically rounded, and any original glacial striations are usually worn away.21

In summary, while till is an unsorted, direct glacial deposit, outwash is a sorted, water-laid deposit. Both are considered forms of glacial drift.1