manure

ma-nure · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Animal excrement, especially from farm animals, used as fertilizer.

  2. 2.

    To apply manure to land as fertilizer.

  3. 3.

    Any organic material used to fertilize land.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    spread manure — to distribute fertilizer across land
  • •
    green manure — plants grown to be plowed into soil as fertilizer

Related words

See also: compost, dung, fertilizer
Synonyms: compost, droppings, dung, fertilizer

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman French mainoverer ("to cultivate"), from Old French manovrer ("to work with the hands"), from Medieval Latin manuoperare. The shift from "cultivation" to "fertilizer" occurred because applying dung was part of land cultivation.