Topsoils

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The uppermost layer of soil that is rich in organic matter and nutrients, essential for plant growth
2. The outermost layer of the earth's soil that supports vegetation and contains a mix of minerals, microorganisms, and organic material
3. The fertile surface layer of soil that is crucial for agriculture, providing necessary nutrients and a habitat for various organisms

Etymology: "Topsoils" is simply the plural of "topsoil", the upper layer of earth in which plants root and grow. The noun is a plain compound of "top" and "soil", both native English words, so there is no foreign pathway or surprising shift in meaning to trace. The plural form is used when referring to several distinct layers or stretches of this surface material, such as the topsoils of different fields or regions.

Synonyms: surface soils, earth, dirt, top layer

Antonyms: bedrock, subsoil, substrate, rock