loamy

[ loh-mee ]

adjective

, loam·i·er, loam·i·est.

1. relating to, characterized by, or being soil that is rich and crumbly because it contains roughly equal parts of sand and silt and a smaller proportion of clay:

   Most roses thrive in loamy, well-drained soil and prefer consistent watering.

   This all-terrain road bike bounds over loamy forest trails as easily as it rolls over smooth tarmac.

2. similar to or evoking rich soil in scent, consistency, etc.:

   The Margaux wine reveals some dusty, loamy, earthy notes intermixed with licorice and herbs.

3. relating to or being a mixture of clay, sand, straw, etc., used in plastering walls, stopping holes, making molds for founding, etc.:

   The pleasant natural color of loamy plaster gives a warm feeling to this traditionally built home.

Other Words From

• loam·i·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of loamy¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; loam ( def ) + -y ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Everywhere we turn, there are loamy loins and torrents of testosterone.

From The Daily Beast

That night another loamy nook was found, clothed with a little thin grass, but waterless.

From Project Gutenberg

There is no stone in the district, nothing but rich loamy clay, alias mud.

From Project Gutenberg

The top-spit earth from an upland pasture, loamy, friable, and well reduced; 3.

From Project Gutenberg

The soil was rich and loamy, and the road we travelled was moist, and in some places very heavy for our waggon.

From Project Gutenberg

The loamy soils are especially adapted to corn, stock raising, and dairying, and they are largely used for these purposes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abundant
• arable
• fruitful
• lush
• productive
• rich