subsoil

1 of 2

noun

sub·​soil ˈsəb-ˌsȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce subsoil (audio)
: the stratum of weathered material that underlies the surface soil

subsoil

2 of 2

verb

subsoiled; subsoiling; subsoils

transitive verb

: to turn, break, or stir the subsoil of
subsoiler noun

Examples of subsoil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The chateau’s Grand Cru vineyards cover 170 acres of gravely soil on top of limestone and silicate subsoils which offer excellent drainage. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 Rather, their measurements, at four different depths up to 90 centimeters, showed that there was actually sufficient moisture because the subsoil can store water for a long period of time. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 July 2023 But crops like hay and pasture grasses rely on subsoil moisture, which have been the most affected by the drought. Time, 11 Aug. 2023 Water level in the subsoil has dropped 25 feet since 2016. Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Consecutive years of bone-dry weather and stretches of triple-digit heat left little of the subsoil moisture that usually builds up over winter and sustains cotton plants when rain is sparse. Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 Until recently, the site had been deepfrozen in the subsoil known as permafrost. New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 In villages, locals who previously stored meat and other perishables in cellars dug deep into the ground now must use ordinary deep freezers because of waterlogged subsoil. Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2021 Remedy heavy clay soil, hard packed subsoil or fast-draining sand by layering on four or more inches of coarse, wood mulch or arborist chips (ground-up trees) that are 1 inch or smaller. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subsoil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1775, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1818, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subsoil was in 1775

Dictionary Entries Near subsoil

Cite this Entry

“Subsoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsoil. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

subsoil

noun
sub·​soil
ˈsəb-ˌsȯil
: a layer of weathered material that lies just under the surface soil

More from Merriam-Webster on subsoil

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