Meaning & use
humus
The dark, nutrient-rich organic matter in soil formed from decomposed plant and animal material.
See it in a sentence
Gardeners mix compost into the beds to increase the humus content of the soil.
Rich humus in the forest floor helps trees absorb water and nutrients.
A note on using this word
Humus is pronounced differently from 'hummus,' the chickpea dip, though the spellings are sometimes confused.
Words with a similar meaning
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