loam

noun

ˈlōm How to pronounce loam (audio)
 chiefly Northern & Midland  ˈlüm,
 New England also  ˈlu̇m
1
a
: a mixture (as for plastering) composed chiefly of moistened clay
b
: a coarse molding sand used in founding (see found entry 5)
2
: soil
specifically : a soil consisting of a friable mixture of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand
loamy
ˈlō-mē How to pronounce loam (audio)
ˈlü-
ˈlu̇-
adjective

Examples of loam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Conspiracy of the flesh is Kennedy’s root allure, the bloody loam of his candidacy, and maybe even his psyche. Time, 9 Aug. 2023 Dense aromas of cassis, mocha and spiced blackberry are sandwiched between earthy loam below and hints of florals above. Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2021 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loam.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lom, from Old English lām clay, mud; akin to Old English līm lime

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of loam was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near loam

Cite this Entry

“Loam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loam. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

loam

noun
: soil entry 3 sense 2
especially : a soil consisting of a loose easily crumbled mixture of varying amounts of clay, silt, and sand
loamy adjective

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