soil
1the 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.
Origin of soil
1Other words from soil
- soilless, adjective
Other definitions for soil (2 of 3)
to make unclean, dirty, or filthy, especially on the surface: to soil one's clothes.
to smirch, smudge, or stain: The ink soiled his hands.
to sully or tarnish, as with disgrace; defile morally: to soil one's good name.
to become soiled: White soils easily.
Origin of soil
2Other words for soil
Other definitions for soil (3 of 3)
to feed (confined cattle, horses, etc.) freshly cut green fodder for roughage.
Origin of soil
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use soil in a sentence
Herrick and other scientists sampled soils in which the jumping worms lived.
Jumping ‘snake worms’ are invading U.S. forests | Megan Sever | November 9, 2020 | Science News For StudentsWhen her portion of soil returns to its home planet, Irons will study it to see whether anything about it has changed from its time in space.
Could astronauts grow plants in soil? Scientists hope ISS will help them get the dirt. | Lela Nargi | November 8, 2020 | Washington PostKingfishers use their oversized bill to break up the soil and their thickened feet to shovel the dirt out the entrance.
Three love stories about birds that will delight your heart | Laura Erickson | November 6, 2020 | Popular-ScienceFrom water bottles and grocery bags to car tires, discarded plastics pollute soils around the world.
Polluting microplastics harm both animals and ecosystems | Alison Pearce Stevens | November 3, 2020 | Science News For StudentsIf SOFIA’s water molecules are sitting loose in the soil, harvesting them could be as low tech as stirring up the dust and collecting the vapor that floats up.
The moon is (slightly) wet, NASA confirms. Now what? | Charlie Wood | October 27, 2020 | Popular-Science
How can she wax poetically about soiling herself at parties and not get branded as sleazy trash, a la Ke$ha?
How Jennifer Lawrence Took Over Hollywood. (It’s Not Just Because of Her Charm.) | Kevin Fallon | December 20, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTOnce started, he hurled himself almost hysterically into the soiling gayety.
Mountain | Clement WoodSpreading the newspaper on the turf to save his knees from soiling, he knelt and set to his task.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm | Irvin S. CobbThey are called so, says Minsheu, voce Saveguard, because they guard the other clothes from soiling.
Such a device, which is shown in Fig. 1, permits the stems to be removed without crushing the berries and soiling the fingers.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5 | Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and SciencesA certain sense of soiling which she could not conquer had followed her up from that glorious meeting.
The Eternal City | Hall Caine
British Dictionary definitions for soil (1 of 3)
/ (sɔɪl) /
the top layer of the land surface of the earth that is composed of disintegrated rock particles, humus, water, and air: See zonal soil, azonal soil, intrazonal soil, horizon (def. 4), horizon (def. 5) Related adjective: telluric
a type of this material having specific characteristics: loamy soil
land, country, or region: one's native soil
the soil life and work on a farm; land: he belonged to the soil, as his forefathers had
any place or thing encouraging growth or development
Origin of soil
1British Dictionary definitions for soil (2 of 3)
/ (sɔɪl) /
to make or become dirty or stained
(tr) to pollute with sin or disgrace; sully; defile: he soiled the family honour by his cowardice
the state or result of soiling
refuse, manure, or excrement
Origin of soil
2British Dictionary definitions for soil (3 of 3)
/ (sɔɪl) /
(tr) to feed (livestock) freshly cut green fodder either to fatten or purge them
Origin of soil
3Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for 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 Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for soil
Notes for soil
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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