Word
manure
Phoneticsma·nure, stress on the second syllable
US/məˈnʊɹ/
UK/mənjˈɔː/
Definitions
01animal waste as fertilizer
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. waste from animals, such as cows or horses, that farmers put on soil to help crops grow.
n. animal excrement, typically from livestock, utilized as an organic fertilizer to improve soil fertility.
“The farmer spread manure over the fields to prepare for the spring planting.”
“Organic farmers often prefer well-rotted horse manure over synthetic fertilizers to maintain the long-term health of the topsoil.”
Synonyms
02nonsense
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Humorous · Informal
n. a polite way to say that something someone said is complete nonsense or lies.
n. a euphemistic substitute for 'bullshit', used to describe nonsense, rubbish, or deceptive talk.
“Don't listen to him; everything he says about his rich uncle is pure manure.”
“The politician's explanation for the missing funds was dismissed by the press as absolute manure.”
03to apply fertilizer
C1 · Advanced Technical
v. to put animal waste on land to make the soil better for plants.
v. to apply manure to land for the purpose of fertilization.
“It is best to manure the garden in late autumn before the first frost.”
“The agronomist recommended that the estate manager manure the north pasture to improve the nitrogen levels before the next rotation.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“She describes the smell that lay over the ruined towns and villages of Belgium, “blood and medicine and horse manure and dead bodies”.” “Prices of seed and manure have shot up.” “In the rainy season manure escapes from the farm, covering the roads.” Etymology
From Middle English maynouren, manuren (“to supervise, toil”), borrowed from Anglo-Norman meinourer and Old French manovrer (whence also English maneuver, or in French manœuvrer) from Vulgar Latin *manuoperare (“work by hand”), from Latin manū (“by hand”) + operārī (“to work”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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