compost — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The decayed remains of organic matter that has rotted into a natural fertilizer.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Dig plenty of compost into clay or sandy soil to improve its structure.

   And do not spread the compost on the weeds / To make them ranker.

   More examples (1)

   [T]he very wet winter will have washed much of the goodness out of the soil. Homemade compost and the load of manure we get from a friendly farmer may not be enough to compensate for what has leached from the ground.

2. A medium in which one can cultivate plants.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   Once the seed tray is filled with compost, insert the seeds spaced 3 cm apart from one another.

   [T]he term 'compost' is commonly used to mean the material used to fill pots, seed trays and containers.

3. A mixture; a compound.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   A sad compost of more bitter than sweet.

Verb

1. To produce compost, let organic matter decay into fertilizer.

   Related words

   humus

   Examples

   If you compost your grass clippings, you can improve your soil.

Noun

1. a mixture of decaying vegetation and manure; used as a fertilizer

   Broader terms

   composition

Verb

1. convert to compost

   Broader terms

   convert

   Examples

   compost organic debris