subsoil
1
5.4
- noun
- /ˈsʌbˌsɔɪl/
- Specialized
- 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
2
8.9
A layer under something that forms its base, like rock under ruins
1
5.1
A thin part under another surface, for example under paint or soil
1
4.2
A material placed under something else to protect or support it
1
7.5
A layer of soil below the surface that has a different color or texture
1
6.7
A layer of soil below the topsoil and above the rock under the ground
Antonyms
How Thick
Surface Forms
Morphology
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.