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soil
1[ soil ]
/ sÉÉŖl /
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noun
the portion of the earth's surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus.
a particular kind of earth: sandy soil.
the ground as producing vegetation or as cultivated for its crops: fertile soil.
a country, land, or region: an act committed on American soil.
the ground or earth: tilling the soil.
any place or condition providing the opportunity for growth or development: Some believe that poverty provides the soil for crime.
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Origin of soil
1First recorded in 1300ā50; Middle English soil, soil(l)e āland, native land, piece of ground, earth, soil,ā from Anglo-French soil, soyl, variants of Old French sueil, souil, from Latin solium āhigh-backed chair, throne, seat,ā confused with solum ābase, foundation, groundā; see also sole2
OTHER WORDS FROM soil
soilless, adjectiveWords nearby soil
SOHF, Soho, Soho Square, soi-disant, soignƩ, soil, soilage, soil bank, soil binder, soil conditioner, soil conservation
Other definitions for soil (2 of 3)
soil2
[ soil ]
/ sÉÉŖl /
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
to become soiled: White soils easily.
noun
Origin of soil
2Other definitions for soil (3 of 3)
soil3
[ soil ]
/ sÉÉŖl /
verb (used with object)
to feed (confined cattle, horses, etc.) freshly cut green fodder for roughage.
Origin of soil
3First recorded in 1600ā10; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use soil in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for soil (1 of 3)
soil1
/ (sÉÉŖl) /
noun
the top layer of the land surface of the earth that is composed of disintegrated rock particles, humus, water, and airSee zonal soil, azonal soil, intrazonal soil, horizon (def. 4), horizon (def. 5) Related adjective: telluric
a type of this material having specific characteristicsloamy soil
land, country, or regionone's native soil
the soil life and work on a farm; landhe belonged to the soil, as his forefathers had
any place or thing encouraging growth or development
Word Origin for soil
C14: from Anglo-Norman, from Latin solium a seat, but confused with Latin solum the ground
British Dictionary definitions for soil (2 of 3)
soil2
/ (sÉÉŖl) /
verb
to make or become dirty or stained
(tr) to pollute with sin or disgrace; sully; defilehe soiled the family honour by his cowardice
noun
the state or result of soiling
refuse, manure, or excrement
Word Origin for soil
C13: from Old French soillier to defile, from soil pigsty, probably from Latin sūs a swine
British Dictionary definitions for soil (3 of 3)
soil3
/ (sÉÉŖl) /
verb
(tr) to feed (livestock) freshly cut green fodder either to fatten or purge them
Word Origin for soil
C17: perhaps from obsolete vb (C16) soil to manure, from soil ² (n)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for soil
soil
[ soil ]
The loose top layer of the Earth's surface, consisting of rock and mineral particles mixed with decayed organic matter (humus), and capable of retaining water, providing nutrients for plants, and supporting a wide range of biotic communities. Soil is formed by a combination of depositional, chemical, and biological processes and plays an important role in the carbon, nitrogen, and hydrologic cycles. Soil types vary widely from one region to another, depending on the type of bedrock they overlie and the climate in which they form. In wet and humid regions, for example, soils tend to be thicker than they do in dry regions. See more at A horizon B horizon C horizon. See illustration at ABC soil.
The American HeritageĀ® Science Dictionary
Copyright Ā© 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for soil
notes for soil
Soil is produced by the weathering of rocks.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright Ā© 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.