How do you use the word "soil" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "soil": The air is soft, the soil moist. Worms are sometimes beneficial to soil.

Soil Meaning

/sɔɪl/

Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounA mixture of mineral particles and organic material, used to support plant growth.

nounThe unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants.

Sentence Examples

The air is soft, the soil moist.

Worms are sometimes beneficial to soil.

Fertile soil is essential for growing healthy vegetables in the garden.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

dirt dirty ground

Antonyms:

clean

CEFR Practice Quiz

For good plant growth, the farmer enriches the fertile ____ with compost.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The farmer analyzed the ____ to determine which crops would grow best in the fertile fields.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English soile, soyle, sule (“ground, earth”), partly from Anglo-Norman soyl (“bottom, ground, pavement”), from Latin solium (“seat, chair; throne”), mistaken for Latin solum (“ground, foundation, earth, sole of the foot”); and partly from Old English sol (“mud, mire, wet sand”), from Proto-Germanic *sulą (“mud, spot”), from Proto-Indo-European *sūl- (“thick liquid”). Cognate with Middle Low German söle (“dirt, mud”), Middle Dutch sol (“dirt, filth”), Middle High German sol, söl (“dirt, mud, mire”), Danish søle (“mud, muck”). Compare French seuil (“level; threshold”) and sol (“soil, earth; ground”). See also sole, soal, solum. For the sole and soil relation, compare typologically Russian по́чва (póčva) akin to подо́шва (podóšva).

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Except during the season in town, she spends her year in golfing, either at St Magnus or Pau, for, like all good Americans, she has long since abjured her native soil." — 1902, Robert Marshall Grade, The Haunted Major:

"Pro-democracy demonstrations in the Thai capital saw Germany's embassy become the focus Monday as the throngs of protesters gathered in front of the mission asked Berlin to investigate whether King Maha Vajiralongkorn is inappropriately conducting state business on German soil." — 2020 October 27, Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat, Yuda Masayuki, “Thailand protesters query German embassy on absent king”, in Nikkei Asia, Nikkei Inc, retrieved 27 Oct 2020:

"And ſince not only a dead Fathers fame, / But more a Ladies honour muſt be touch’d, / Which nice as Ermines will not bear a Soil ; / Let all retire ; that you alone may hear / What ev’n in whiſpers I won’d tell your ear." — 1690, John Dryden, Don Sebastian, King of Portugal: A Tragedy Acted at the Theatre Royal, London: Jo. Hindmarſh, act V, page 118:

"As Deere being ſtrucke flie thorow many ſoiles, / Yet ſtill the ſhaft ſitcks faſt, ſo ;" — 1603, John Marston, John Webster, The Malcontent, act III, scene i:

"HAving given you an Account of the way of ordering of Meadows, Paſtures and Arable Land, with ſeveral Sorts of Improvement of them ; I ſhall in the next place proceed to give an Account of the ſeveral ways uſed to improve Land by Manure, Dung, and other Sort of Soils." — 1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, “Of Manuring, Dunging, and Soiling of Land”, in The Whole Art of Husbandry; Or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land, 2nd edition, London: J. H. for H. Mortlock, and J. Robinſon, published 1708, page 66:

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