subsoil

1 of 2

noun

sub·​soil ˈsəb-ˌsȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce subsoil (audio)
: the stratum of weathered material that underlies the surface soil

subsoil

2 of 2

verb

subsoiled; subsoiling; subsoils

transitive verb

: to turn, break, or stir the subsoil of
subsoiler noun

Examples of subsoil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This land was stripped of its dense vegetation by miners scouring the subsoil for tiny specks of gold, using mercury to separate the gold from the sediment. Simeon Tegel, NPR, 2 Apr. 2024 His contemporary approach to winemaking—based partly on geology—focuses on the critical interaction between subsoils and vines in producing high-quality wines. Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The chateau’s Grand Cru vineyards cover 170 acres of gravely soil on top of limestone and silicate subsoils which offer excellent drainage. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 Rather, their measurements, at four different depths up to 90 centimeters, showed that there was actually sufficient moisture because the subsoil can store water for a long period of time. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for subsoil 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subsoil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1775, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1818, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subsoil was in 1775

Dictionary Entries Near subsoil

Cite this Entry

“Subsoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsoil. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

subsoil

noun
sub·​soil
ˈsəb-ˌsȯil
: a layer of weathered material that lies just under the surface soil

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