compost

American  

[kom-pohst] / ˈkɒm poʊst /

noun

1. a mixture of various decaying organic substances, as dead leaves or manure, used for fertilizing soil.

2. a composition; compound.

---

verb (used with object)

• composts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• composted,
  past participle,  past
• composting
  present participle

1. to use in compost; make compost of.

   to compost manure and kitchen scraps.

2. to apply compost to (soil).

verb (used without object)

• composts,
  present (3rd person singular)
• composted,
  past participle,  past
• composting
  present participle

1. to make compost.

   Shredded leaves will compost easily.

compost British  

/ ˈkɒmpɒst /

noun

1. a mixture of organic residues such as decomposed vegetation, manure, etc, used as a fertilizer

2. a mixture, normally of plant remains, peat, charcoal, etc, in which plants are grown, esp in pots

3. rare a compound or mixture

---

verb

1. to make (vegetable matter) into compost

2. to fertilize with compost

compost Scientific  

/ kŏm′pōst′ /

1. A mixture of decayed or decaying organic matter used to fertilize soil. Compost is usually made by gathering plant material, such as leaves, grass clippings, and vegetable peels, into a pile or bin and letting it decompose as a result of the action of aerobic bacteria, fungi, and other organisms.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• composter
  noun
• compostable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• composting
  present
• composted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• compost
  simple
• composts
  simple
• have composted
  perfect
• has composted
  perfect
• am composting
  progressive
• are composting
  progressive
• is composting
  progressive
• have been composting
  perfect progressive
• has been composting
  perfect progressive

Past

• composted
  simple
• had composted
  perfect
• was composting
  progressive
• were composting
  progressive
• had been composting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will compost
  simple
• will have composted
  perfect
• will be composting
  progressive
• will have been composting
  perfect progressive

---

Etymology

Origin of compost

1350–1400; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French < Latin compositum, noun use of neuter of compositus composite; cf. compote

---

Explanation

Compost is organic matter like orange peels and coffee grounds mixed together and left to decay, usually in a compost pile, then used as fertilizer. To make such a mixture is to compost. To compost is to make a mixture of organic matter, such as manure and leftover food, and leave it somewhere like a compost pile in the back yard or in a bucket with a tight lid in the kitchen. The mixture is also called compost, and after it sits and decays for a while, voila! It turns into fertilizer that makes the soil rich and the plants happy.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

compost composts composted composting

Grounds staff have removed contaminated soil from around the affected trees and applied a biochar and compost mixture to support their natural defensive response, she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

A sign outside the bathroom noted he recently cleaned the compost toilet for a week, and it encouraged peers to thank him if the facilities were nice or “get at them” if they were gross.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

These include keeping soil permanently covered, applying compost, using more diverse crop rotations and reducing the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 28, 2026

"All these apples will go on the compost heap," MacDonald tells me, ruefully.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

He smelled rancid as usual from working with vegetables, but more so that night, as if he’d fallen into the compost heap.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

First Ave. The unassuming brick-clad structure generates its own power, collects and treats its own water, and composts its waste.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 25, 2022

"There are some legal concerns about certain types of composts being practiced on park land," he said, in response to a question by Council Member Peter Koo about outside composting.

From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2021

The brand also composts its organic waste and will soon offer fully biodegradable packaging.

From New York Times ● Nov. 18, 2020

“With small adjustments we can make huge impacts for our environment,” says Bresca chef/owner Ryan Ratino, who works with “imperfect” foods and whole animals, composts and uses compostable containers, and avoids plastic and over-ordering.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 1, 2019

Loam is the staple soil for the gardener; it is not only used extensively in the pure and simple state, but enters into most of the composts prepared specially for his plants.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 7 "Horticulture" to "Hudson Bay" by Various

The company has so far composted around 60 bodies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

That can be done either by reducing the amount of single-use plastics these companies create and sell, or by manufacturing products that can be recycled or composted.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 4, 2025

The ultimate solution to Keurig's plastic footprint, she said, is a product that eliminates "the need to collect anything back from customers," like a fiber-based pod that can be composted along with the grounds.

From Salon ● Dec. 19, 2024

In the past few years, more plastic has been going to incinerators and less food waste - which councils are now sending to anaerobic digesters or to be composted.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2024

We composted most of our waste and used it as fertilizer.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

Helou said Blumenfield’s motion completes the loop by keeping food waste close to home, creating more local composting and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transporting waste outside of the city.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

The state’s composting law has proved challenging on several fronts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

Human composting, also known as terramation, is when the body of a person who has died is placed in a sealed vessel containing organic matter.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

Hughes believes the case for human composting is so overwhelming that he is actively searching for individuals who want to take that step when they die.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

“You could still write about the neighborhood composting program for your college application essay,” I offer.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• fertilizer

---