compost
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a mixture of decayed organic material, like leaves and vegetable scraps, used to improve soil.
n.a mass of decayed organic matter, such as garden waste and food scraps, used as a nutrient-rich soil conditioner.
Simple“She added a layer of compost to her vegetable garden to help the tomatoes grow.”
In context“The gardener regularly turned the heap to ensure the compost reached the high temperatures necessary for efficient decomposition.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the substance generally; countable when referring to a specific batch or type.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a special soil mixture you buy in bags to grow plants in pots.
n.a prepared growth medium, often containing peat or bark, used for cultivating plants in containers.
Simple“I need to buy a bag of potting compost for my new indoor plants.”
In context“The nursery recommends a seed-sowing compost with a fine texture to ensure delicate roots can penetrate the medium easily.”
UsageCommonly used in British English where American English speakers would typically say 'potting soil'.
Synonymspotting soilgrowth medium - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to collect old food and garden waste so it can break down into fertilizer.
v.to convert organic waste into compost through a controlled biological decomposition process.
Simple“Our family started to compost all our fruit peels instead of throwing them away.”
In context“By choosing to compost their organic waste, the household significantly reduced the amount of rubbish sent to the local landfill.”
UsageBoth transitive and intransitive uses are common.
From Middle English compost, from Old Northern French compost (“a mixture of leaves, manure, etc., for fertilizing land, also a condiment”), from Latin compositus (“composed”), from componere. Doublet of compote, which was taken from modern French, composite, and kompot.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.