loamy
Americanadjective
-
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.
-
similar to or evoking rich soil in scent, consistency, etc..
The Margaux wine reveals some dusty, loamy, earthy notes intermixed with licorice and herbs.
-
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.
Loamy soil — our hero — holds moisture longer than sand but is still permeable enough for water to sink deep into the ground.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2023
Loamy soil, where sand and clay are about equally mixed.
From The Elements of Agriculture A Book for Young Farmers, with Questions Prepared for the Use of Schools by Waring, George E. (George Edwin)
Loams or Loamy Soils, consist of mixtures of the sands, silt and clay with some organic matter.
From The First Book of Farming by Goodrich, Charles Landon
Come and kick my legs, young ’un; there’s no one near but Loamy, and he can’t hurt.”
From The Fifth Form at Saint Dominic's A School Story by Reed, Talbot Baines
Loamy soil planted continuously soon becomes compact, heavy, and lifeless.
From The $100 Prize Essay on the Cultivation of the Potato. Prize offered by W. T. Wylie and awarded to D. H. Compton. How to Cook the Potato, Furnished by Prof. Blot. by Compton, D. A.
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.
