manure

word

/məˈnʊɹ/
/mənjˈɔː/

Definition

Animal waste (dung) used as fertilizer to enrich soil and help plants grow. Can also be used as a verb meaning to apply manure to land.

Usage & Nuances

Usually uncountable ('some manure,' not 'a manure'). Common types: cow manure, horse manure, chicken manure. Distinguished from chemical fertilizer. Can be used as a mild euphemism for 'crap' or 'BS' in informal speech. Collocations: 'spread manure,' 'pile of manure.'

Example Sentences

The barn smelled strongly of horse manure.

basic

Organic manure is better for the environment than chemical fertilizers.

basic

Living next to a dairy farm means you get used to the smell of manure pretty quickly—or at least you tell yourself that.

natural

My grandfather always said the best gardens are built on good manure, and honestly, he wasn't wrong.

natural

They delivered three truckloads of manure this morning, and the whole neighborhood knows about it.

natural

The farmer spread manure on the fields to help the crops grow.

basic