soil
1 Americannoun
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the portion of the earth's surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus.
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a particular kind of earth.
sandy soil.
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the ground as producing vegetation or as cultivated for its crops.
fertile soil.
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a country, land, or region.
an act committed on American soil.
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the ground or earth.
tilling the soil.
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any place or condition providing the opportunity for growth or development.
Some believe that poverty provides the soil for crime.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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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 horizon
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a type of this material having specific characteristics
loamy soil
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land, country, or region
one's native soil
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life and work on a farm; land
he belonged to the soil, as his forefathers had
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any place or thing encouraging growth or development
verb
verb
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to make or become dirty or stained
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(tr) to pollute with sin or disgrace; sully; defile
he soiled the family honour by his cowardice
noun
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the state or result of soiling
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refuse, manure, or excrement
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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.
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See more at A horizon B horizon C horizon See illustration at ABC soil
Discover More
Soil is produced by the weathering of rocks.
Other Word Forms
- soilless adjective
Etymology
Origin of soil1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English soil, soil(l)e “land, native land, piece of ground, earth, soil,” from Anglo-French soil, soyl, variants of Old French sueil, souil, from Latin solium “high-backed chair, throne, seat,” confused with solum “base, foundation, ground”; sole 2 ( def. )
Origin of soil2
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb soilen, soil(l)e “to dirty,” from Old French soillier, soullier, suillier, from Vulgar Latin suculāre, (unrecorded) “to wallow like a pig,” derivative verb of suculus or sucula, diminutives of sus “pig, sow”; sow 2, -cle 1
Origin of soil3
First recorded in 1600–10; origin uncertain
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.
Iran kept hostile forces away from its soil for decades after the 1980-1988 war with Iraq—which killed hundreds of thousands of Iranians, including from chemical weapons deployed by Saddam Hussein.
Researchers will look at whether microscopic soil organisms could help tree survival consistently across sites.
From BBC
Tests showed the material steadily decomposed under normal soil conditions, with full breakdown estimated within 13 weeks.
From Science Daily
The March full Moon is known as the Worm Moon as it refers to when earthworms begin to emerge from the soil as the weather warms in springtime.
From BBC
Ottawa has already said it believes India is not currently linked to violent crimes or threats on Canadian soil.
From BBC
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.
