pedology

¹ American  

[pi-dol-uh-jee] / pɪˈdɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. soil science.

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pedology ² American  

[pi-dol-uh-jee] / pɪˈdɒl ə dʒi /

noun

1. the scientific study of the nature and development of children.

2. pediatrics.

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pedology ¹ British  

/ pɪˈdɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. a US spelling of paedology

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pedology ² British  

/ ˌpiːdəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, pɪˈdɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of the formation, characteristics, and distribution of soils

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pedology Scientific  

/ pĭ-dŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of soils, including their origins, characteristics, and classification.

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Other Word Forms

• pedologic adjective
• pedological adjective
• pedologist noun

Etymology

Origin of pedology¹

First recorded in 1920–25; pedo- ² + -logy

Origin of pedology²

pedo- ¹ + -logy

Explanation

Pedology is the study of soil, including the way it formed and evolved. The Greek root of pedology is pedon, "ground" or "earth." An earlier definition was "the study of children," from a different Greek word meaning "boy." A soil scientist who specializes in the field of pedology is focused on the way soil forms and how different types are distributed geographically. Pedology often involves mapping and classifying soil as well.

Example Sentences

France’s first university diploma in wine studies has been launched in Strasbourg: a one-year course in wine-tasting, pedology - or soil science - and the neuroscience behind good wine.

From Reuters • Mar. 29, 2018

Jenny, H. Factors of soil formation: a system of quantitative pedology.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017