subsoil
1 of 2noun
sub·soil ˈsəb-ˌsȯi(-ə)l 
: the stratum of weathered material that underlies the surface soil
subsoil
2 of 2verb
subsoiled; subsoiling; subsoils
transitive verb
: to turn, break, or stir the subsoil of
subsoiler noun
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Consecutive years of bone-dry weather and stretches of triple-digit heat left little of the subsoil moisture that usually builds up over winter and sustains cotton plants when rain is sparse. Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 Until recently, the site had been deepfrozen in the subsoil known as permafrost. New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 In villages, locals who previously stored meat and other perishables in cellars dug deep into the ground now must use ordinary deep freezers because of waterlogged subsoil. Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2021 Remedy heavy clay soil, hard packed subsoil or fast-draining sand by layering on four or more inches of coarse, wood mulch or arborist chips (ground-up trees) that are 1 inch or smaller. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2021 The rationale was that this laborious spadework brought loamy topsoil down to subsoil level to promote deep rooting, relieved soil compaction and allowed the gardener to improve both sandy and clay soils by adding compost. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 14 July 2021 Some foundations penetrate a few feet into the ground at most, but there is no need to penetrate deep into the subsoil or beyond. University Of Houston Energy Fellows, Forbes, 13 May 2021 Willamette Valley ponderosa pine often tolerates and roots into both clayey and rocky subsoil. oregonlive, 26 Dec. 2020 See More
Noun
Water level in the subsoil has dropped 25 feet since 2016. Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Consecutive years of bone-dry weather and stretches of triple-digit heat left little of the subsoil moisture that usually builds up over winter and sustains cotton plants when rain is sparse. Ryan Dezember, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 Until recently, the site had been deepfrozen in the subsoil known as permafrost. New York Times, 2 Nov. 2021 In villages, locals who previously stored meat and other perishables in cellars dug deep into the ground now must use ordinary deep freezers because of waterlogged subsoil. Georgi Kantchev, WSJ, 5 Oct. 2021 Remedy heavy clay soil, hard packed subsoil or fast-draining sand by layering on four or more inches of coarse, wood mulch or arborist chips (ground-up trees) that are 1 inch or smaller. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2021 The rationale was that this laborious spadework brought loamy topsoil down to subsoil level to promote deep rooting, relieved soil compaction and allowed the gardener to improve both sandy and clay soils by adding compost. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 14 July 2021 Some foundations penetrate a few feet into the ground at most, but there is no need to penetrate deep into the subsoil or beyond. University Of Houston Energy Fellows, Forbes, 13 May 2021 Willamette Valley ponderosa pine often tolerates and roots into both clayey and rocky subsoil. oregonlive, 26 Dec. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1775, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1818, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
subsoil
noun
sub·soil ˈsəb-ˌsȯil
: a layer of soil lying just under the topsoil
subsoil
noun
as in substratum
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- substratum
- sediment
- silt
- topsoil
- alluvium
- colluvium
- loam
- marl
- loess
- humus
- soil
- duff
- gravel
- sand
- detritus
- mull
- clay
- mud
- shingle
- dust
- kaolin
- gley
- earth
- mold
- gumbo
- gault
- muck
- dirt
- blackland
- ground
- clod
- guck
- gook
