51Թ

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soil

1

[ soil ]

noun

  1. the portion of the earth's surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus.
  2. a particular kind of earth:

    sandy soil.

  3. the ground as producing vegetation or as cultivated for its crops:

    fertile soil.

  4. a country, land, or region:

    an act committed on American soil.

  5. the ground or earth:

    tilling the soil.

  6. any place or condition providing the opportunity for growth or development:

    Some believe that poverty provides the soil for crime.



soil

2

[ soil ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to make unclean, dirty, or filthy, especially on the surface:

    to soil one's clothes.

  2. to smirch, smudge, or stain:

    The ink soiled his hands.

  3. to sully or tarnish, as with disgrace; defile morally:

    to soil one's good name.

    Synonyms: , ,

verb (used without object)

  1. to become soiled:

    White soils easily.

noun

  1. the act or fact of soiling.
  2. the state of being soiled.
  3. a spot, mark, or stain.
  4. dirty or foul matter; filth; sewage.

soil

3

[ soil ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to feed (confined cattle, horses, etc.) freshly cut green fodder for roughage.

soil

1

/ ɔɪ /

noun

  1. 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 telluric
  2. a type of this material having specific characteristics

    loamy soil

  3. land, country, or region

    one's native soil

  4. the soil
    life and work on a farm; land

    he belonged to the soil, as his forefathers had

  5. any place or thing encouraging growth or development
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

soil

2

/ ɔɪ /

verb

  1. to make or become dirty or stained
  2. tr to pollute with sin or disgrace; sully; defile

    he soiled the family honour by his cowardice

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the state or result of soiling
  2. refuse, manure, or excrement
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

soil

3

/ ɔɪ /

verb

  1. tr to feed (livestock) freshly cut green fodder either to fatten or purge them
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

soil

  1. 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.
  2. See more at A horizonSee illustration at ABC soil

soil

  1. Material on the surface of the Earth on which plants can grow. ( See topsoil .)
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Notes

Soil is produced by the weathering of rocks.
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • Ǿl adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

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 ܱܳ, (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
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of soil1

C14: from Anglo-Norman, from Latin solium a seat, but confused with Latin solum the ground

Origin of soil2

C13: from Old French soillier to defile, from soil pigsty, probably from Latin ū a swine

Origin of soil3

C17: perhaps from obsolete vb (C16) soil to manure, from soil ² (n)
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Kevin Martin, Kew Gardens' head of trees, explained that the recent warmer weather - coupled with an existing soil moisture deficit - is creating a "worrying" situation.

From

However, they will want to return to Norway still in the tie, knowing they could use the conditions on home soil to their advantage.

From

"We have lost a gallant son of the soil!"

From

Ukraine is believed to have vast reserves of critical rare minerals like graphite, titanium and lithium beneath its soil.

From

The Eaton and Palisades fires likely made polluted soils worse, but soil experts say bioremediation may be an alternative to scraping, especially for gardeners.

From

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Ǿésoilage