humus

Everyday

(science) The dark, rich part of soil made from dead and rotting leaves, plants and animals; it feeds plants. tree →

In the lessons

A science and gardening word: humus makes soil fertile and holds water. Learned in lessons about soil, compost, decomposers and worms. Phrases: «rich in humus», «humus layer».

Examples

• Worms help turn dead leaves into humus. tree →
• Humus makes the soil dark and rich. tree →
• Plants grow well in soil full of humus. tree →
• Compost becomes humus over time. tree →
• The top layer of the forest floor is rich in humus. tree →
• Humus holds water like a sponge. tree →

Note

Uncountable: no plural. Trap: «humus» (soil) and «hummus» (a dip made from chickpeas) sound almost the same — «HYOO-mus» vs «HUM-us»; the food has double «m».