manure

1 of 2

verb

ma·​nure mə-ˈnu̇r 

-ˈnyu̇r, 

-ˈn(y)ü-ər

manured; manuring

transitive verb

1

obsolete : cultivate

2

: to enrich (land) by the application of manure

manurer noun

manure

2 of 2

noun

: material that fertilizes land

especially : refuse of stables and barnyards consisting of livestock excreta with or without litter

manurial

mə-ˈn(y)u̇r-ē-əl 

adjective

Examples of manure in a Sentence

Noun

a bag of cow manure

fertilizers made from animal manures

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That’s a lot of mouths to feed and coats to brush and manure to shovel. — Mary Carole McCauley, baltimoresun.com, 17 Nov. 2020

At Heligan, the soil was manured, aerated, and assiduously double dug for centuries; plants must have been queuing at the gates. — Charlotte Mendelson, The New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2019

Noun

The spores can be found in soil, dust and animal manure. — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 23 June 2026

The car ended up high-centered on the edge of the manure pile. — Josh Rivera, USA Today, 21 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English manouren, from Anglo-French mainouverer, meinourer to till (land), construct, create, from Medieval Latin manu operare to perform manual labor, from Latin manu by hand + operari to work — more at operate

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing manure

• green manure

Rhymes for manure

• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure
• brochure
• cocksure
• coiffure
• contour
• couture
• demure
• detour
• endure

Kids Definition

manure

1 of 2 verb

ma·​nure mə-ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r 

manured; manuring

: to enrich by applying manure

manure a field

manure

2 of 2 noun

: material that fertilizes land

especially : bodily waste from birds and animals in stables and barnyards with or without litter