Soil

How it is used

Used in soil science, agriculture, ecology and engineering. Soils are described by texture, colour, depth and fertility. In civil engineering, 'soil' means any loose ground above bedrock and is studied in soil mechanics.

Example sentences

1. The volcanic soils around the mountain are very fertile.

2. The engineers tested the soil before designing the foundations.

Common collocations

• fertile soil
• soil sample
• soil erosion
• soil type
• soil mechanics

Related terms

• topsoilThe upper layer of soil, usually the top 5 to 30 cm, which is rich in organic matter and holds most plant roots and soil organisms.
• soil profileA vertical section through a soil from the surface down to the rock beneath, showing its different layers, called horizons.
• humusThe dark, stable organic material in soil that forms when plant and animal remains decay. It holds water and nutrients and makes soil fertile.
• clayVery fine mineral particles, smaller than about 0.002 mm in soil science, and the soft, sticky material they form when wet. Clay holds water and nutrients well.
• weatheringThe breaking down of rock at or near the Earth's surface by physical, chemical or biological processes, without the pieces being carried away.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• soil · Agriculture

More terms: Soil

• soil horizon
• soil texture
• parent material