noun · neutral

soil

/sɔɪl/SOIL

Band 5-6speakingtask2

the top layer of the earth where plants grow

Examples

Good soil structure is essential for healthy crops.

Contaminated soil can prevent vegetables from being safe to eat.

Farmers test soil regularly to decide which fertiliser to use.

Band 8 sentence

Improving soil management across farms would increase yields and reduce the need for chemical fertilisers.

Collocations

  • fertile soil
  • soil quality
  • soil contamination

Word family

soiled adjto soil verb

Common mistakes

on the soilin the soil

soils are goodsoil is good

Say it for a higher band

5land6earth7+soil

Synonyms

earth

Easily confused

land

They bought a piece of land near the river.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Environment & Climate

Learn it with its set