compost

noun

com·post | \ ˈkäm-ˌpōst,

especially British -ˌpäst\

Definition of compost

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2 : mixture, compound

compost

verb

composted; composting; composts

Definition of compost (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

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

Other Words from compost Example Sentences Learn More about compost

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from compost

Verb

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

Shifting to local sources of materials, like rainwater and compost, would drop the energy use dramatically, shifting the farms into territory that's typically considered sustainable. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Urban farms could be incredibly efficient—but aren’t yet," 27 Dec. 2018 These organizations have pledged to reuse, recycle, or compost 100% of their plastic packaging by 2025. — Tabor Wordelman, Teen Vogue, "You Can't Just "Clean Up" the Plastic in the Ocean. Here's Why.," 18 Dec. 2018 Fuel your compost with a mix of nitrogen-rich and carbon-rich materials. — Lee Reich, The Seattle Times, "Fall is the perfect time to build a compost bin," 16 Oct. 2018 Gardeners are at work everywhere, churning compost and arranging horticultural fleece over willow wigwams. — Jo Rodgers, Vogue, "Getting Back to Nature (With a Bit of Champagne) at Raymond Blanc’s Luxe English Gardening School," 6 Aug. 2018 Farmers are also waiting for possible regulations from the state’s Department of the Environment, which is studying compost and mulch practices. — Kate Magill, Columbia Flier, "Council ends Howard's contentious mulch debate, pulls legislation," 5 June 2018 Don't worry—the juice and stomped grapes are used as compost in the vineyard afterward, not for wine. — Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, "T&C Travel Guide: Napa Valley and Sonoma County, California," 9 July 2018 Baking them into a pie might be their last chance to shine before the compost bucket beckons. — Melissa Clark, New York Times, "The Perfect Pie for Less-Than-Perfect Berries," 29 June 2018 For example, are pricey compost tumblers really necessary? — Lisa Boone, latimes.com, "Curious about composting? Learn more at one of these free L.A. classes," 22 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Tea bags often contain plastic fibers that cannot be composted, while loose leaf can go straight into your backyard bin. — Mandy Ferreira, Good Housekeeping, "The Best Places To Shop Online If You Want To Save Money And Live A Zero Waste Lifestyle," 24 Aug. 2017 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. — Anchorage Daily News, "Seattle bans plastic straws, utensils at restaurants, bars," 3 July 2018 By weight 75 to 80 percent of all household trash is organic matter that can be composted and turned into soil. — Stephen Leahy, National Geographic, "How People Make Only a Jar of Trash a Year," 18 May 2018 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

These 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.