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top dressing

top dressing

5.4
A thin layer of compost or fertilizer spread on top of soil to help plants grow without mixing it in
  • noun
  • /tɑp ˈdrɛsɪŋ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : abono superficial
  • "Top-dressing has produced the best results, increasing germination rates."
  • top dressing of compost

And that is top dressing fertilizer in tiny cells like these.

Examples

  • And then layer up as much top dress as you can.

  • Find a top dressing mulch local to your area to keep the moisture in and slowly break down.

    Blog text (20)
  • And that is top dressing fertilizer in tiny cells like these.

  • Last November, a quarter-inch of Crown III top dressing was spread on the field.

    Academic text (2001)
  • I spread that on and it has also a top dressing of guy green, glacial rock dust and azamite.

  • He recommends a "total package" that includes top-dressing of a quarter-inch of compost, followed by aeration and seeding.

    Academic text (1996)
  • For horticultural use as a top dressing for lawns or potting mixtures, the soluble salt concentration should be less than 6 mmhos/cm.

    Academic text (1996)
  • It also markets ground tree limbs and other yard trimmings from 10 northern California locations for applications such as top dressings on highway construction and renovation roadsides.

    Academic text (1998)
  • To improve your lawn's health, apply a top dressing of compost in the spring.

  • A good top dressing can significantly enhance the soil's nutrient content.

Synonyms

topdressing
vstop dressing
  • Specialized
4.9

A thin layer of material like compost or sand spread on soil to help plants grow

refers specifically to fertilizer or manure spread on soil surface only
dressing
vstop dressing
  • Specialized
4.6

A light layer of fertilizer or compost spread on soil

is a surface layer applied without mixing into the soil

Antonyms

subsoil
  • Specialized
1 5.4

A layer of soil under the topsoil and above the rock that has less plant material and more minerals

Surface Forms

top dressing singular
top dressings plural

Morphology

top + dressing

The meaning 'a layer of fertilizer applied to the surface' is directly derivable from combining 'top' (upper surface) with 'dressing' (an application of manure or fertilizer). This is a regular, compositional noun-noun compound used in a literal agricultural sense, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Top dressing comes from the simple image of putting a thin cover on the soil surface. The word top means the surface and dressing means a cover, so a top dressing is a thin layer of 'fertilizer' or 'manure' left on top of the soil, not mixed in, to help plants grow.