Lexic.us

Definition of Humus

1. Noun. Partially decomposed organic matter; the organic component of soil.

2. Noun. A thick spread made from mashed chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice and garlic; used especially as a dip for pita; originated in the Middle East.

Definition of Humus

1. n. That portion of the soil formed by the decomposition of animal or vegetable matter. It is a valuable constituent of soils.

Definition of Humus

1. Noun. A large group of natural organic compounds, found in the soil, formed from the chemical and biological decomposition of plant and animal residues and from the synthetic activity of microorganisms ¹

2. Noun. An alternative spelling of '''hummus'''. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Humus

1. decomposed organic matter [n -ES]

Medical Definition of Humus

1. The part of dirt or soil which comes from organic matter, such as from dead and decaying plants and animal remains. (06 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Humus

humppas humps humpties humpty humpy hums humstrum humstrums humuhumu humuhumunukunukuapuaa

humuhumunukunukuapuaas humulene cyclase humulin humulus humungous humus (current term) humuses humusy humvee humvees

hun hunch hunch cuddy hunch hunch forward hunch over hunchback hunchbacked hunchbacks hunched hunches

Literary usage of Humus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Journal of the American Chemical Society by American Chemical Society (1908)
"THE SEPARATION OF CLAY IN THE ESTIMATION OF humus. BY CA MOOERS AND HH HAMPTON. Received March 6, 1908. That a serious error may be introduced into the ..."

2. Biennial Report by California Dept. of Agriculture, California State Commission of Horticulture (1909)
"The discussion of the humus question was postponed the other day until this afternoon; if there is no objection, we will have that discussion now, ..."

3. Forest Physiography: Physiography of the United States and Principles of by Isaiah Bowman (1911)
"humus DEFINED Originally the term humus had no special significance and was only a ... Among agricultural folk and in general among foresters the term humus ..."

4. Agricultural Geology by Frederick Valentine Emerson (1920)
"Weathering Effects of humus.—humus is so important agriculturally that its formation ... Because of its porosity humus absorbs and retains moisture which is ..."

5. Gray's Botanical Text-book by Asa Gray (1885)
"humus-plants,2 or Saprophytes. Among the higher plants there are some (for ... 1 As a matter chiefly of historical interest, the " humus theory " must be ..."

6. Soils: Their Formation, Properties, Composition, and Relations to Climate by Eugene Woldemar Hilgard (1921)
"Estimation of humus in Soils. It has been usual to determine the amount of humus in soils by means of (dry or wet) combustion, calculating the humus from ..."

7. Plant-geography Upon a Physiological Basis by Andreas Franz Wilhelm Schimper (1903)
"Chemical Differences in humus and the resulting Flora. Dissimilar nature of the flora on different kinds of humus. Great exclusiveness of certain species of ..."

8. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1898)
"Hilgard has shown that the nitrogen content of humus found in the soil of the ... The content of nitrogen in the humus by after years' culture was reduced ..."

Other Resources: