humus

[ hyoo-muh s or, often, yoo- ]

/ ˈhyu məs or, often, ˈyu- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR humus ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

Nearby words

hums, humuhumunukunukuapuaa, humulin, humulon, humungous, humus, humvee, hun, hun-tun, huna bay, hunan

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

Related formsnon·hu·mus, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for humus

Why not chat over a plate of humus with members of Bereaved Families for Peace and Combatants for Peace?
An Alternative Travel Itinerary for Mitt Romney|Emily L. Hauser|July 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes, as in the case of the humus masabacha at a certain SoHo eatery, I slip up.
A Nice Jewish Boy-cott|Raphael Magarik|March 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
When a plant perishes, its conversion into humus usually begins at once.
Peat and its Uses as Fertilizer and Fuel|Samuel William Johnson
In Italian terra seems often to mean tellus, often humus, very rarely ager, constantly oppidum or castrum.
Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 1 of 3|W. E. Gladstone

Humus: the portion of the soil caused by the decay of animal or vegetable matter.
Agriculture for Beginners|Charles William Burkett
Most of the crops require tillage, and that is exhaustive of the store of humus.
Crops and Methods for Soil Improvement|Alva Agee
When the material had reached the condition of humus, the bacterial activity decreased to the point where fertility was restored.
Northern Nut Growers Association Thirty-Fourth Annual Report 1943|Various

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

Word Origin for humus

C18: from Latin: soil, earth

confusable

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

Science 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.

humus

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of humus

Examples from the Web for humus

British Dictionary definitions for humus

humus

noun

Word Origin for humus

confusable

Science definitions for humus

humus