topsoil

noun

top·​soil ˈtäp-ˌsȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce topsoil (audio)
: surface soil usually including the organic layer in which plants have most of their roots and which the farmer turns over in plowing

Examples of topsoil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The topsoil isn’t able to fully purify rainwater, leaving CSP1-3 to absorb leftover carbon and nitrogen. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025 Use it for pest control by adding a ring of biodegradable litter along the topsoil of outdoor plants to keep slugs, snails, and pests away. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2025 Over time, excessive tilling leads to eroded and diminished topsoil, polluted waterways and ultimately less-vigorous crops and harvests. Anthony Reardon, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2025 On a chilly morning this past July, a small group bearing shovels, trowels, brushes, and other tools gathered in the park and began digging into the topsoil. Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for topsoil

Word History

First Known Use

1733, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of topsoil was in 1733

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Cite this Entry

“Topsoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topsoil. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

topsoil

noun
top·​soil -ˌsȯil How to pronounce topsoil (audio)
: surface soil usually including the rich upper layer in which plants have most of their roots and which the farmer turns over in plowing

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