compost

plural composts

1. countableuncountableThe decayed remains of organic matter that has rotted into a natural fertilizer.

   Dig plenty of compost into clay or sandy soil to improve its structure.

   2 more examples

   And do not spread the compost on the weeds / To make them ranker.

   c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]

   [T]he very wet winter will have washed much of the goodness out of the soil. Homemade compost and the load of manure we get from a friendly farmer may not be enough to compensate for what has leached from the ground.

   2014 April 21, Mary Keen, “You can still teach an old gardener new tricks: Even the hardiest of us gardeners occasionally learn useful new techniques [print version: Gardening is always ready to teach even the hardiest of us a few new tricks, 19 April 2014]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Gardening), page G7

2. UKcountableuncountableA medium in which one can cultivate plants.

   Once the seed tray is filled with compost, insert the seeds spaced 3 cm apart from one another.

   1 more example

   [T]he term 'compost' is commonly used to mean the material used to fill pots, seed trays and containers.

   Royal Horticultural Society, Organic matter: what is it?, retrieved 29 Mar 2021

3. countableobsoleteuncountableA mixture; a compound.

   A sad compost of more bitter than sweet.

   a. 1660, Henry Hammond, God's Complaint Against Revolters

present singular third person composts · participle present composting · participle past composted · past composted

1. To produce compost, let organic matter decay into fertilizer.

   If you compost your grass clippings, you can improve your soil.