Main Entry:

cher·no·zem

Pronunciation:

\ˌcher-nə-ˈzyȯm, -ˈzem\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Russian, from chërnyĭ black + zemlya earth

Date:

1841

: any of a group of dark-colored zonal soils with a deep rich humus horizon found in regions (as the grasslands of central North America) of temperate to cool climate

— cher·no·zem·ic \-ˈzyȯ-mik, -ˈze-\ adjective