compost

1 of 2

noun

com·​post ˈkäm-ˌpōst 

 especially British  -ˌpäst

1

: a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used for fertilizing and conditioning land

2

: mixture, compound

compost

2 of 2

verb

composted; composting; composts

transitive verb

: to convert (a material, such as plant debris) to compost

compostable

ˈkäm-ˌpō-stə-bəl 

adjective

composter

ˈkäm-ˌpō-stər 

noun

Examples of compost in a Sentence

Verb

We compost leaves in our backyard.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Do not add to the compost pile because the seeds can live in the soil for up to 20 years. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 June 2025

Copy Facebook Pinterest Photo by Alanna Hale When travelers at Bali’s Desa Potato Head order cups of coffee brewed from the island’s famed beans, the leftover grounds don’t go in the trash—or even the compost. —Jen Rose Smith, AFAR Media, 27 May 2025

Verb

Sustainable gardening involves practices that include composting, using organic methods and prioritizing native plants. —Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

Signed into law in 2016, the bill mandated a gradual increase in the amount of organic waste that must be diverted away from landfills to sites where the waste could be treated and composted, thus reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin compostum, from Latin, neuter of compositus, compostus, past participle of componere

First Known Use

Noun

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1829, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing compost

• compost heap
• compost pile

Kids Definition

compost

noun

com·​post

ˈkäm-ˌpōst

: a mixture largely of decayed matter of once living things (as plant debris) used for fertilizing and conditioning land