mulch

[muhlch]

noun

1. a covering, as of straw, compost, or plastic sheeting, spread on the ground around plants to prevent excessive evaporation or erosion, enrich the soil, inhibit weed growth, etc.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover with mulch.

mulch

/ mʌltʃ /

noun

1. half-rotten vegetable matter, peat, etc, used to prevent soil erosion or enrich the soil

verb

1. (tr) to cover (the surface of land) with mulch

Other Word Forms

• nonmulched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mulch¹

1650–60; noun use of obsolete mulch (adj.), Middle English molsh soft, Old English myl ( i ) sc mellow; cognate with dialectal German molsch soft, overripe

Word History and Origins

Origin of mulch¹

C17: from obsolete mulch soft; related to Old English mylisc mellow; compare dialect German molsch soft, Latin mollis soft

Example Sentences

Despite that, troops are expected to remain in the nation's capital for the foreseeable future, and many of them can be seen around the city helping with trash collection and mulching.

From BBC

Soldiers are seen picking up trash, laying down mulch and chatting aimlessly as they patrol.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a strange and silent place, in which all the beds are neatly made, the floors around them no longer mulched with clothing, charge cords and snack wrappers.

From Los Angeles Times

In exchange, the city’s parkway program provided free native plants suitable for Long Beach to replant the area and mulch to help retain rainwater.

From Los Angeles Times

Working on weekends, the couple installed the pathways and mulched the soil after it had decomposed under the weight of the sheet mulching.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compost 
• manure