topsoil

[ top-soil ]

noun

1. the fertile, upper part of the soil.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover (land) with topsoil.

topsoil

/ ˈtɒpˌsɔɪl /

noun

1. the surface layer of soil

verb

1. to spread topsoil on (land)
2. to remove the topsoil from (land)

topsoil

/ tŏp′soil′ /

1. The upper portion of a soil, usually dark colored and rich in organic material. It is more or less equivalent to the upper portion of an A horizon in an ABC soil.

topsoil

1. The thin, rich layer of soil where most nutrients for plants are found.

Notes

The loss of topsoil through erosion is a major agricultural problem.

Most of the land-based biological activity of the Earth takes place here.

Word History and Origins

Origin of topsoil¹

First recorded in 1860–65; top ¹ + soil ¹

Example Sentences

This is done by adding nutrients to the soil, such as bagged topsoil and compost, when the seeds go in the ground.

From Washington Post

When local ranchers and farmers say that they are fifth-generation residents, the reality is that their recent histories are topsoil.

From Outside Online

The state loses an estimated 190 million tons of its rich topsoil each year.

From Washington Post

Clarke proposed to get local companies to donate cement for the statue’s new home, he’d pay for topsoil and crushed granite himself and the trustees who run the cemetery were willing to give over some land.

From Washington Post

“We’re pretty proud of the fact that we don’t tear up the topsoil,” said Paul Mikesell, founder and CEO of Carbon Robotics, the manufacturer of the Autonomous Weeder.

From Washington Post

In Brazil the best soil is known as terra roxa, a topsoil of red clay three or four feet thick with a gravel subsoil.

From Project Gutenberg

Bless the red-skins who bred maize, the great preserver of life and damn them for breeding maize the great destroyer of topsoil.

From Project Gutenberg

The Indian celt no doubt fell from the topsoil while the trench in which the wall was built was being excavated.

From Project Gutenberg

The topsoil and the humus may be a little mixed, but we are not going to sort them out by hand.

From Project Gutenberg

The prairie vole makes a tortuous network of paths through the grass and honeycombs the topsoil with its tunnels.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clay
• coast
• dirt
• dust
• gravel
• land
• mud
• sand
• shore
• surface
• terrain
• turf