loamy
Americanadjective
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relating to, characterized by, or being soil that is rich and crumbly because it contains roughly equal parts of sand and silt and a smaller proportion of clay.
Most roses thrive in loamy, well-drained soil and prefer consistent watering.
This all-terrain road bike bounds over loamy forest trails as easily as it rolls over smooth tarmac.
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similar to or evoking rich soil in scent, consistency, etc..
The Margaux wine reveals some dusty, loamy, earthy notes intermixed with licorice and herbs.
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relating to or being a mixture of clay, sand, straw, etc., used in plastering walls, stopping holes, making molds for founding, etc..
The pleasant natural color of loamy plaster gives a warm feeling to this traditionally built home.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of loamy
First recorded in 1595–1605; loam ( def. ) + -y 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Something that's loamy is full of rich soil. There are some plants that thrive only in loamy spots. Loamy soil is composed of loam, a very rich mixture of clay, sand, and silt. If a patch of earth is loamy, it's full of nutrients and well drained — perfect for growing most plants and trees. The Old English root of loam is lam, "mud" or "muddy earth," which stems from a root that translates to "slimy."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It adds nutrients, attracts beneficial microbes and — perhaps most important — helps create a loamy soil that more easily absorbs and retains the water it receives.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2023
On some nights, when the wind drifted south, he could smell the cattle, their dung giving off a lush, loamy scent.
From New York Times • May 26, 2022
Nestled along coastal waterways, which created fertile loamy soil, the Low Country is abundant with fresh seafood, produce, and grains.
From Salon • Jan. 28, 2022
The wine comes off a bit hot with sweetened chocolate and overripe black fruits that mingle with loamy soils on the palate.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 16, 2021
The bag stank, like he had kept old cabbages in it, and the loamy scent of the leaves trapped inside did nothing to improve the smell.
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
