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subsoil

subsoil

1 5.4
A layer of soil under the topsoil and above the rock that has less plant material and more minerals
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌbˌsɔɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : subsuelo
  • Once construction ends, a thin layer of topsoil is spread on top of compacted, nonporous subsoil.
  • clay subsoil
  • subsoil resources
  • subsoil minerals

Examples

  • After 40-plus years of annual plowing, topsoil on the knob has migrated down the hill, exposing lighter-colored subsoil rich in calcium carbonate.

    Academic text (2005)
  • And the vineyard subsoil is calcareous chalk.

  • We work on compacted subsoil, and in the dry season, any vehicle or piece of equipment can cause a problem.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Sod is laid on top of that subsoil, creating a hard surface, much like concrete.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The granular subsoil had been a pleasant surprise.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • The only way saltwater gets this far inland is if it enters the subsoil from below.

  • The soil was a sandy clay with a gravelly subsoil and an erosion hazard.

    Blog text (27)
  • Approximately 50 percent of this infiltrates the subsoil and recharges the aquifers.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Mycorrhizae also help plants acquire essential nutrients under very deficient conditions, such as those in subsoil.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Farmers often enhance crop growth by ensuring that the subsoil is rich in essential minerals.

Synonyms

horizon
vssubsoil
  • Specialized
6 7.5

A layer of soil below the surface that has a different color or texture

specifies the layer directly under topsoil rather than any distinct layer
substratum
vssubsoil
1 8.9

A layer under something that forms its base, like rock under ruins

is limited to a physical soil layer beneath topsoil and above bedrock
sublayer
vssubsoil
1 5.1

A thin part under another surface, for example under paint or soil

names the specific soil layer under topsoil and above bedrock
undersoil
vssubsoil
  • Specialized
6.7

A layer of soil below the topsoil and above the rock under the ground

means the same but is the more common technical term
underlayer
vssubsoil
4.2

A material placed under something else to protect or support it

refers to a natural soil layer between topsoil and bedrock, not a constructed base

Antonyms

14 2.8

The upper layer of soil rich in nutrients where most plants grow roots

How Thick

bedrock
  • Specialized
12 4.7
subsoil
  • Specialized
1 5.4
horizon
  • Specialized
6 7.5
topsoil
14 2.8
litter
22 1.0

Surface Forms

subsoil singular
subsoils plural

Morphology

subsoil = soil (transparent) = sub + soil

The noun is a straightforward combination of the productive prefix 'sub-' (under) and the noun 'soil', so the meaning is directly derivable.

Etymology

Subsoil comes from the parts sub- 'under' and soil, so it literally means the soil that lies 'under' the top layer. That's why subsoil is the layer beneath the topsoil, with fewer living things and more minerals.