humus
humus — noun
1. the dark, nutrient-rich layer of soil that forms when dead leaves, plants, and o
the dark, nutrient-rich layer of soil that forms when dead leaves, plants, and other organic material break down naturally over time
The gardener mixed rich humus into the flower beds before planting the roses.
collocation: rich humus
After years of fallen leaves rotting on the ground, a thick layer of dark humus formed.
formation: leaves piling up and rotting → humus layer
Priya explained that humus helps sandy soil hold more water and keeps nutrients available for crops.
Soil scientists measure humus levels in farmland to decide whether more organic fertilizer is needed.
Without enough humus, garden soil turns hard and does not support healthy plant growth.
- compost
man-made decomposed organic matter added to soil; humus is naturally occurring
- leaf mould
partially decomposed leaves; a stage before becoming humus
- organic matter
broader term that includes humus plus other plant/animal material in soil
- mineral soil
soil consisting mainly of rocks and minerals without organic content
- sand
coarse soil particles with almost no organic material
文法句型
humus + verb (takes singular verb)
用法筆記
Humus is an uncountable noun — do not say 'a humus' or 'humuses'. The word is often confused with 'hummus' (a chickpea dip from the Middle East), which sounds the same but has a completely different meaning.