topsoil
noun
top·soil
ˈtäp-ˌsȯi(-ə)l 
: surface soil usually including the organic layer in which plants have most of their roots and which the farmer turns over in plowing
Examples of topsoil in a Sentence
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In 2023, a cadaver dog alerted to topsoil near where the patio had been built in the home’s backyard, but as authorities dug deeper, the dog stopped picking up the scent, law enforcement sources said.
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Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Tenant farmers from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri who had lost everything to drought, collapsed crop prices and a decade of wind that stripped the topsoil off the plains migrated their families in hopes of survival.
—Jasmine Desiree, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Oaks also produce superior leaf litter with thick, leathery leaves that can take up to three years to break down, thereby sheltering beneficial insects and protecting topsoil.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Our gardens suffer from annual topsoil loss, reducing productivity.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
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Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Tenant farmers from Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri who had lost everything to drought, collapsed crop prices and a decade of wind that stripped the topsoil off the plains migrated their families in hopes of survival.
—Jasmine Desiree, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Oaks also produce superior leaf litter with thick, leathery leaves that can take up to three years to break down, thereby sheltering beneficial insects and protecting topsoil.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Our gardens suffer from annual topsoil loss, reducing productivity.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for topsoil
Cite this Entry
“Topsoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topsoil. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
topsoil
noun
top·soil
-ˌsȯil
: surface soil usually including the rich upper layer in which plants have most of their roots and which the farmer turns over in plowing
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