loam

noun

ˈlōm

chiefly Northern & Midland ˈlüm,

New England also ˈlu̇m

: a mixture (as for plastering) composed chiefly of moistened clay

: a coarse molding sand used in founding (see found entry 5)

: soil

specifically : a soil consisting of a friable mixture of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand

loamy

ˈlō-mē

ˈlü-

ˈlu̇-

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The thin topsoil, never enriched here by glaciers that dragged loam over other parts of the Midwest, offered only a subsistence existence.

Doug Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Sep. 2022 In my experience, Texas's three primary soil types are clay, sand and loam (sand, silt and a little clay) soil mixtures.

Robby Brown, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Mass Natural also sells loam, potting soil, and mulch made with compost.

Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 7 July 2022 The rich loam inside began spilling out onto the white pebble pathways around the beds, an eyesore and a waste.

Nevin Martell, Washington Post, 8 June 2022 For example, Warren says the Higher Education Act of 1964 empowers the president to cancel an unlimited amount of student loans for an unlimited amount of student loam borrowers.

Zack Friedman, Forbes, 3 May 2022 It is composed of loam, and exhibits, upon being excavated, quite a homogenous appearance.

Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 8 May 2022 One picture, divided between a brick-red top and a loam-brown bottom, is in the formal tradition of color field painting.

Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2022 Lovely violets open, with toasted spice, resinous botanicals, pine and loam layered on the nose.

Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'loam.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.