Meaning & use

soil

noun·Everyday

The loose top layer of earth in which plants grow, made of minerals, organic matter, and living organisms.

See it in a sentence

The farmer tested the soil to see which nutrients it lacked before planting.

Rich, dark soil in the valley made the region ideal for growing crops.

A note on using this word

As a verb, 'to soil' means to make something dirty, a very different and unrelated meaning from the noun.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To make something dirty or stained.

The toddler soiled his shirt with spaghetti sauce within minutes of dinner.

Make it your own

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