# manure

/məˈnʊɹ/ (US) · /mənjˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/manure
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. animal waste as fertilizer

noun · CEFR B2

waste from animals, such as cows or horses, that farmers put on soil to help crops grow.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. nonsense

noun · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Informal

a polite way to say that something someone said is complete nonsense or lies.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. to apply fertilizer

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to put animal waste on land to make the soil better for plants.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The farmer spread manure over the fields to prepare for spring planting.
- The smell of fresh manure hung heavy in the air as we drove past the dairy farm.
- While synthetic fertilisers provide a quick nutrient boost, organic manure improves the long-term structure of the soil by increasing its ability to hold water and support beneficial microbes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.