top-dress

verb

ˈtäp-ˌdres 

variants or topdress or top dress

top-dressed or topdressed or top dressed; top-dressing or topdressing or top dressing; top-dresses or topdresses or top dresses

transitive verb

: to apply material to (something, such as a road) without working it in

The unit can also be used to spread crushed rock in layers up to 12 cm thick for top-dressing roads.

—The Mining Journal

especially : to scatter or apply amendments (such as compost) over (soil or land)

If you are a religious composter, you can just top-dress your beds and borders with the contents of your bin.

—Craig Summers Black

Topdressing the acidic soils with the organic matter raises the pH and allows for vegetation to return.

—Gretchen Leslie

Word History

First Known Use

1733, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

top-dress

verb

-ˌdres

: to apply material to (as land or a road) without working it in

especially : to scatter fertilizer over (land)