What term is used to describe the process of the earth's materials being transported by water, wind, or ice?

The term that describes the process of the earth's materials being transported by water, wind, or ice is erosion. Erosion involves the wearing away and movement of soil and rock from one location to another, primarily driven by natural forces such as moving water, wind, and glacial activity. This process plays a crucial role in shaping landscapes and redistributing sediments across various environments.

When materials are eroded, they can be carried away from their original location and deposited elsewhere, which is often referred to as deposition. However, deposition is the result of erosion; it's the process of those materials settling in a new location after being moved. Weathering, on the other hand, refers to the breakdown of rocks and minerals into smaller particles without the movement of those materials, while metamorphosis relates to transformations in the structure of rocks due to heat and pressure. Thus, erosion specifically focuses on the transport aspect, making it the appropriate term for this process.