compost
noun
especially British -ˌpäst\
Definition of compost
(Entry 1 of 2)
compost
verbDefinition of compost (Entry 2 of 2)
: to convert (a material, such as plant debris) to compost
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Other Words from compost
Verb
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adjective
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noun
Examples of compost in a Sentence
Verb
We compost leaves in our backyard.Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Put hay, wood, and compost piles as far as possible from your home. — Christina Lords, idahostatesman, "SW Idaho cat infected in problem area known for previous plague cases," 26 June 2018 Keep the pots and add the plants to the compost pile. — Tom Maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Secrets to sunflower success," 2 June 2018 Even compost without kitchen scraps provides insects that rats consume, unless the pile is kept hot enough to kill them. — Kym Pokorny, OregonLive.com, "'It's a bad year for rats' in Oregon cities: Here's how to fight them," 13 Feb. 2018 The bill would permit farms in the county’s rural residential and rural conservation zoning districts, and on land with an agricultural preservation designation, to operate compost facilities on their properties as an accessory to their farms. — Kate Magill, Columbia Flier, "Howard County digs into a new debate over mulching regulations," 2 May 2018 Snap off a chunk of the rhizome, then place the rest of the plant back in its pot, sprinkle on more potting soil or compost, water heavily, and treat it gently for a few days. — Sharon Tregaskis, Good Housekeeping, "The Easiest Way To Grow Spicy Ginger In Your Own House," 24 Oct. 2017 And on top of it all, the state is about to get a healthy helping of extra compost. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "Why (and How) California Is Destroying Mountains of Weed," 2 July 2018 Usually the compost is ready to harvest after three to six months, depending on the size of your bin. — James Jackson, Popular Mechanics, "Create Compost by Building Your Own Worm Box," 12 Mar. 2013 Spread a light layer of compost or pelleted seed establishment mulch over the new seed to help keep it moist. — Tim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Lawn thinning out beneath a cluster of trees? Too much shade could be wreaking havoc," 10 July 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
The zoo has had an organic waste diversion program since 2011, but was hindered by restrictions on composting primate and big cat stool. — Jennifer Conn, Akron Reporter, cleveland.com, "Akron Zoo sets global sustainability standard for zoos with 'Big Hanna' compost system (photos)," 24 Apr. 2018 Kathryn Kellogg is one of those young millennials who has downsized her trash pile—anything that hasn’t been composted or recycled—so two years' worth literally fits inside one 16-ounce jar. — Stephen Leahy, National Geographic, "How People Make Only a Jar of Trash a Year," 18 May 2018 Solar panels have been installed on roofs, energy efficient light bulbs are lowering electric bills, food waste is being composted and a wind farm off the coast of Cleveland is in development. — cleveland.com, "13 organizations making Northeast Ohio greener," 10 Apr. 2018 The hotel runs a tight trash program with 90 percent of waste being composted or recycled (there’s a person dedicated to sorting). — Stephanie Granada, Sunset, "10 Stunning Eco-Friendly Hotels," 22 Jan. 2018 Frappuccinos will still have the dome lids, but the traditional plastic straws will be made from either paper or plastic that can be composted, CNN reported. — Natalie Dreier, ajc, "Starbucks to phase out plastic straws at all locations," 9 July 2018 The eco-conscious city has been an environmental leader in the U.S., working to aggressively curb the amount of trash that goes into landfills by requiring more options that can be recycled or composted. — CBS News, "Seattle becomes first U.S. city to ban plastic utensils and straws," 2 July 2018 The school already composts food waste, but the new devices — the biggest is about the size of a washer and dryer — are expected to supercharge that process, cutting costs by 40 percent over traditional composting. — Annabelle Williams, Philly.com, "Temple's food waste digesters disrupting the industry or just 'shifting the burden'?," 27 June 2018 Behind those mirrored doors with have a wet bath complete with a @natureshead composting toilet and an on demand hot water heater. — Taylor Mead, House Beautiful, "This 20-Year-Old Bus Is Now A Solar-Powered Traveling Tiny Home," 27 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'compost.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for compost
compost
noun
English Language Learners Definition of compost
(Entry 1 of 2)
: a decayed mixture of plants (such as leaves and grass) that is used to improve the soil in a garden
compost
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of compost (Entry 2 of 2)
: to change (plant materials) into compost
See the full definition for compost in the English Language Learners Dictionary
compost
noun
\
Kids Definition of compost
: decayed organic material (as of leaves and grass) used to improve soil especially for growing crops
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