Soil vs. Humus

Soilnoun

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

Humusnoun

A large group of natural organic compounds, found in the soil, formed from the chemical and biological decomposition of plant and animal residues and from the synthetic activity of microorganisms

Soilnoun

(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.

Humusnoun

alternative spelling of hummus

Soilnoun

(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.

Humusnoun

That portion of the soil formed by the decomposition of animal or vegetable matter. It is a valuable constituent of soils.

Soilnoun

Country or territory.

‘The refugees returned to their native soil.’; ‘Kenyan soil’;

Humusnoun

partially decomposed organic matter; the organic component of soil

Soilnoun

That which soils or pollutes; a stain.

Humusnoun

a thick spread made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and garlic; used especially as a dip for pita; originated in the Middle East

Soilnoun

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.

Humus

In soil science, humus (derived in 1790–1800 from the Latin humus for 'earth, ground') denominates the fraction of soil organic matter that is amorphous and without the . Humus significantly affects the bulk density of soil and contributes to its retention of moisture and nutrients.

‘cellular cake structure characteristic of plants, micro-organisms or animals’;

Soilnoun

Dung; compost; manure.

‘night soil’;

Soilnoun

Faeces or urine etc. when found on clothes.

Soilnoun

A bag containing soiled items.

Soilnoun

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

Soilverb

(transitive) To make dirty.

Soilverb

(intransitive) To become dirty or soiled.

‘Light colours soil sooner than dark ones.’;

Soilverb

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

Soilverb

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

Soilverb

To make invalid, to ruin.

Soilverb

To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.

Soilverb

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 (such food having the effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food.

‘to soil a horse’;

Soilverb

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.

Soilverb

To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.

‘Men . . . soil their ground, not that they love the dirt, but that they expect a crop.’;

Soilverb

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

‘Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained.’;

Soilverb

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

Soilverb

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

Soilnoun

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.

Soilnoun

Land; country.

‘Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leaveThee, native soil?’;

Soilnoun

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

‘Improve land by dung and other sort of soils.’;

Soilnoun

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.

‘As deer, being stuck, fly through many soils,Yet still the shaft sticks fast.’; ‘O, sir, have you taken soil here? It is well a man may reach you after three hours' running.’;

Soilnoun

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

‘A lady's honor . . . will not bear a soil.’;

Soilnoun

the state of being covered with unclean things

Soilnoun

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

Soilnoun

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 land had never been plowed’; ‘good agricultural soil’;

Soilnoun

the geographical area under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state;

‘American troops were stationed on Japanese soil’;

Soilverb

make soiled, filthy, or dirty;

‘don't soil your clothes when you play outside!’;

Soil

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.