peat
1 Americannoun
-
a highly organic material found in marshy or damp regions, composed of partially decayed vegetable matter: it is cut and dried for use as fuel.
-
such vegetable matter used as fertilizer or fuel.
noun
noun
-
-
a compact brownish deposit of partially decomposed vegetable matter saturated with water: found in uplands and bogs in temperate and cold regions and used as a fuel (when dried) and as a fertilizer
-
( as modifier )
peat bog
-
-
a piece of dried peat for use as fuel
noun
-
archaic a person, esp a woman
-
obsolete a term of endearment for a girl or woman
-
Partially decayed vegetable matter, especially peat moss, found in bogs. The low levels of oxygen and the acidic environment in bogs prevent the degradation of peat. Peat is burned as fuel and also used as fertilizer.
-
See more at bog
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of peat1
1300–50; Middle English pete (compare Anglo-Latin peta ) < ?
Origin of peat2
First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain
Explanation
Peat is a rich, dark, dirt-like material that's made from decomposed organic matter. You can use peat in gardens and potted plants, to help the soil stay moist. Peat is like a naturally occurring compost — it forms in bogs from plants that have broken down. In many parts of the world, peat is burned as a fuel, and in others it's a popular mulch in gardens and on farms. If it's left to continue decomposing for many years, peat eventually turns into lignite, a low-grade coal that can also be burned for heat or as an energy source.
Vocabulary lists containing peat
Western Europe - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Western Europe - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
He moves from the peat bogs of 18th-century Ireland to the dot-com bust with equal authority.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
Researchers, who combined fieldwork with satellite data, suggested that "unusually dry conditions" and "flammable vegetation" enabled the fire to burn deep peat soils.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
"These are specialist species which really need reed beds, long grassy habitats and areas like peat bog and marsh," he added.
From BBC ● May 19, 2026
In these regions, practices such as draining peatlands for agriculture, clearing forests, and converting land for development have made peat soils far more likely to ignite.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 19, 2026
“In here,” she whispered and, looking around to make sure we hadn’t been seen, pushed me through a door into a cramped hovel that reeked of peat smoke.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
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.
