soil
Where roots grow
The disparity between the commonest meanings of soil noun and soil verb is explained by their being derived separately—though of course it is possible to soil something with soil.
To soil means to make unclean or impure: She soiled her reputation. He soiled his shirt when he dripped mustard on it.
Soil is also earth that provides a medium for growing plants.
This sort of soil also has figurative use, designating a thing that provides a nurturing environment: The movement that provided fertile soil for the development of nationalism.
In journalism, soil is sometimes used like land: Turkey refused to allow use of its soil for launching the attack.
Fertile soil mixture
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- siltWaterborne earth particles
- sandFine rock particles
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
substrate · turf · peat · earthworms · tillage · horizon · aeration · pH
Decayed organic fertilizer
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- manureAnimal waste as fertilizer
- nutrient-richContaining abundant nourishment
- loamFertile soil mixture
vermicompost · mulch · nitrogen · phosphorus · potassium · bioactive · permaculture · arable
Microscopic living organisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- mycorrhizaeFungal-root mutualistic associations
earthworms · nematodes · protozoa · microbiome · symbiosis · decomposers · nitrogen-fixing · bioremediation
Grape-growing estate
- appellationName or title given
- wineFermented grape beverage
- mineralityRock-derived character in taste
- vintageQuality from past eras
winemaking · viticulture · oenology · grapevine · climate · microclimate · limestone · chalk
Unclear dirty mark
- spotMark or location
- blemishVisible flaw or mark
- discolorationAltered surface pigmentation
- marSpoil the appearance
laundry · stubborn · set-in · pretreating · scrubbing · removal
Made impure by contaminants
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- remediationAct of correcting faults
- cleanupRestoration of order
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
pesticides · lead · arsenic · industrial · hazardous · brownfield · leaching · groundwater
Excess water drainage
- gulliesChannels carved by erosion
- degradationDecline in condition
- desertificationLand becoming barren, infertile
- dust bowlErosion-ravaged drought zone
conservation · terracing · windbreak · cover crops · sedimentation · deforestation · overgrazing · watershed
loam
Fertile soil mixture
humus · substrate · turf · peat · earthworms · tillage · horizon · aeration · pH · minerals
compost
Decayed organic fertilizer
- humusDecayed organic soil matter
- manureAnimal waste as fertilizer
- nutrient-richContaining abundant nourishment
loam · vermicompost · mulch · nitrogen · phosphorus · potassium · bioactive · permaculture · arable · cultivable
microbes
Microscopic living organisms
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
mycorrhizae · earthworms · nematodes · protozoa · microbiome · symbiosis · decomposers · nitrogen-fixing · bioremediation · organic matter
vineyard
Grape-growing estate
- appellationName or title given
- wineFermented grape beverage
- mineralityRock-derived character in taste
vintage · winemaking · viticulture · oenology · grapevine · climate · microclimate · limestone · chalk · slate
smudge
Unclear dirty mark
- spotMark or location
- blemishVisible flaw or mark
- discolorationAltered surface pigmentation
mar · laundry · stubborn · set-in · pretreating · scrubbing · removal
filthy
Thoroughly unclean
mucky · unclean · smudged · stained · muddied · dusty · unwashed · begrimed · caked · spattered
polluted
Made impure by contaminants
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- remediationAct of correcting faults
- cleanupRestoration of order
heavy metals · pesticides · lead · arsenic · industrial · hazardous · brownfield · leaching · groundwater · testing
runoff
Excess water drainage
- gulliesChannels carved by erosion
- degradationDecline in condition
- desertificationLand becoming barren, infertile
dust bowl · conservation · terracing · windbreak · cover crops · sedimentation · deforestation · overgrazing · watershed · stabilization
- Earthearth, Earth, globe, continent, axis
- Earth/Landearth, land, ground, dirt, clay
- farmingfarm, farms, farmer, farmers, crop
- gardenbed, seeds, bloom, blossom, compost
- resourcesresources, money, natural resources, human resources, financial resources
- nonliving thingsrocks, stones, boulders, metal, pebbles
- home soilOne's own territory
- fertile soilNutrient-rich growing medium
- potting soilBlended substrate for containers
- native soilOne's country of origin
- garden soilAmended dirt for planting
- soil nutrientsElements feeding plant roots
soiled, soils, topsoil, soiling, unsoiled, subsoil, soilless