humus

[ hyoo-muhs or, often, yoo- ]

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noun

the dark organic material in soils, produced by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter and essential to the fertility of the earth.

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Origin of humus

1790–1800; <Latin: earth, ground; akin to Greek chamaí on the ground, chthṓn earth, Sanskrit kṣam-,Lithuanian žẽmė,Serbo-Croatian zèmlja ground, earth; cf. chameleon, chthonian, zemstvo; see Homo

Other words from humus

non·hu·mus, noun

Words Nearby humus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use humus in a sentence

But enough humus–time to get back outside, and see a little archeology!
An Alternative Travel Itinerary for Mitt Romney | Emily L. Hauser | July 13, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
The particular phenomena of vegetation also afford abundant evidence that humus cannot be the only source of carbon.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry | Thomas Anderson
It did not notice Forrester scurrying away in the shape of an ant through the leaves and thick humus of the jungle floor.
Pagan Passions | Gordon Randall Garrett
The generation of the humus-acids is probably hastened during the digestion of the many half-decayed leaves which worms consume.
The Ontario Readers: The High School Reader, 1886 | Ministry of Education
The upper few inches of soil is humus rich in organic matter; below this is clay.
Amphibians and Reptiles of the Rainforests of Southern El Peten, Guatemala | William E. Duellman

See that the soil contains enough humus or vegetable mold to make it rich and to enable it to hold moisture.
The Practical Garden-Book | C. E. Hunn

British Dictionary definitions for humus

humus

/ (ˈhjuːməs) /

noun

a dark brown or black colloidal mass of partially decomposed organic matter in the soil. It improves the fertility and water retention of the soil and is therefore important for plant growth

Origin of humus

C18: from Latin: soil, earth

confusable For humus

Avoid confusion with hummus

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for humus

humus

[ hyōō′məs ]

A dark-brown or black organic substance made up of decayed plant or animal matter. Humus provides nutrients for plants and increases the ability of soil to retain water.

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