Regolith vs. Soil — What's the Difference?

Regolith () is a blanket of unconsolidated, loose, heterogeneous superficial deposits covering solid rock. It includes dust, broken rocks, and other related materials and is present on Earth, the Moon, Mars, some asteroids, and other terrestrial planets and moons.

Soil is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Earth's body of soil, called the pedosphere, has four important functions: as a medium for plant growth as a means of water storage, supply and purification as a modifier of Earth's atmosphere as a habitat for organismsAll of these functions, in their turn, modify the soil and its properties.

The layer of loose rock resting on bedrock, constituting the surface of most land. Also called mantle rock.

The top layer of the earth's surface in which plants can grow, consisting of rock and mineral particles mixed with decayed organic matter and having the capability of retaining water.

(geology) The layer of loose rock, dust, sand, and soil, resting on the bedrock, that constitutes the surface layer of most dry land on Earth, the Moon, and other large solid aggregated celestial objects. Submarine regolith also exists.

A particular kind of earth or ground

Country; land

The agricultural life

A place or condition favorable to growth; a breeding ground.

The state of being soiled.

A stain.

Filth, sewage, or refuse.

Manure, especially human excrement, used as fertilizer.

To make dirty, particularly on the surface.

To disgrace; tarnish

To corrupt; defile.

To dirty with excrement.

To become dirty, stained, or tarnished.

To feed (livestock) with soilage.

(uncountable) A mixture of mineral particles and organic material, used to support plant growth.

(uncountable) The unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants.

(uncountable) The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the earth that has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors of: climate (including water and temperature effects), and macro- and microorganisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time. A product-soil differs from the material from which it is derived in many physical, chemical, biological, and morphological properties and characteristics.

Country or territory.

That which soils or pollutes; a stain.

A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought for by other game, as deer.

Dung; compost; manure.

Faeces or urine etc. when found on clothes.

A bag containing soiled items.

A wet or marshy place in which a boar or other such game seeks refuge when hunted.

(transitive) To make dirty.

(intransitive) To become dirty or soiled.

To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully.

(reflexive) To dirty one's clothing by accidentally defecating while clothed.

To make invalid, to ruin.

To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.

To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an enclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (due to such food having the effect of purging them) to purge by feeding on green food.

To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (such food having the effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food; as, to soil a horse.

To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.

To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust.

To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully.

To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark ones.

The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them.

Land; country.

Dung; fæces; compost; manure; as, night soil.

A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought for by other game, as deer.

That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain.

The state of being covered with unclean things

The part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock

Material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use);

The geographical area under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state;

Make soiled, filthy, or dirty;