green manure

noun

: an herbaceous crop (such as clover) plowed under while green to enrich the soil
green-manure transitive verb

Examples of green manure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First, green manure crops are crops grown with the sole purpose of being turned into soil. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024 Traditional green manure crops include alfalfa, oats, and even winter wheat. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of green manure was in 1785

Rhymes for green manure

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Browse Nearby Words

green mangle
green manure
green mealie
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Cite this Entry

“Green manure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/green%20manure. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

green manure

noun
: a crop of plants (as clover) that is plowed under while green to enrich the soil

More from Merriam-Webster on green manure

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about green manure

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