loam

loam

noun \ˈlōm, chiefly Northern & Midland ˈlüm, New England also ˈlu̇m\

Definition of LOAM

1

a : a mixture (as for plastering) composed chiefly of moistened clay

b : a coarse molding sand used in founding

2

: soil; specifically : a soil consisting of a friable mixture of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand

— loamy \ˈlō-mē, ˈlü-, ˈlu̇-\ adjective

Origin of LOAM

Middle English lom, from Old English lām clay, mud; akin to Old English līm lime

First Known Use: 12th century

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

loam

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Rich, friable (crumbly) soil with nearly equal parts of sand and silt, and somewhat less clay. The term is sometimes used imprecisely to mean earth or soil in general. Loam in subsoil receives varied minerals and amounts of clay by leaching (percolation) from the topsoil above.