manure

1 of 2

verb

ma·​nure mə-ˈnu̇r How to pronounce manure (audio)
-ˈnyu̇r,
-ˈn(y)ü-ər
manured; manuring
Synonyms of manurenext

transitive verb

1
obsolete : cultivate
2
: to enrich (land) by the application of manure
manurer noun

manure

2 of 2

noun

: material that fertilizes land
especially : refuse of stables and barnyards consisting of livestock excreta with or without litter
manurial
mə-ˈn(y)u̇r-ē-əl How to pronounce manure (audio)
adjective

Examples of manure in a Sentence

Noun a bag of cow manure fertilizers made from animal manures
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.
Verb
Bailey and other Nelsonville residents were profiled in a Wausau Daily Herald story in 2020 about their fears that manure from a CAFO about a mile from the small Portage County community was leaching nitrogen into their groundwater. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024 Is manure the future of fuel? —Maria Jimenez Moya, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2022
Noun
Organic dairy CAFOs, including some in Sonoma, share some of the characteristics of conventional ones, like the use of manure lagoons — giant pools of animal waste that pollute air and water and can harm human health. —Marina Bolotnikova, Vox, 10 Oct. 2024 Refill it with native soil and some compost (and even some aged manure) prior to planting. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for manure 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English manouren, from Anglo-French mainouverer, meinourer to till (land), construct, create, from Medieval Latin manu operare to perform manual labor, from Latin manu by hand + operari to work — more at operate

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of manure was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing manure

Dictionary Entries Near manure

manurance

manure

manure salts

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Manure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manure. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

manure

1 of 2 verb
ma·​nure mə-ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r How to pronounce manure (audio)
manured; manuring
: to enrich by applying manure
manure a field

manure

2 of 2 noun
: material that fertilizes land
especially : bodily waste from birds and animals in stables and barnyards with or without litter
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