peat

1
[ peet ]
See synonyms for peat on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a highly organic material found in marshy or damp regions, composed of partially decayed vegetable matter: it is cut and dried for use as fuel.

  2. such vegetable matter used as fertilizer or fuel.

Origin of peat

1
1300–50; Middle English pete (compare Anglo-Latin peta) < ?

Words Nearby peat

Other definitions for peat (2 of 2)

peat2
[ peet ]

noun
  1. Obsolete. a merry young girl; darling (used as a term of endearment).

Origin of peat

2
First recorded in 1560–70; origin uncertain

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How to use peat in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for peat (1 of 2)

peat1

/ (piːt) /


noun
    • a compact brownish deposit of partially decomposed vegetable matter saturated with water: found in uplands and bogs in temperate and cold regions and used as a fuel (when dried) and as a fertilizer

    • (as modifier): peat bog

  1. a piece of dried peat for use as fuel

Origin of peat

1
C14: from Anglo-Latin peta, perhaps from Celtic; compare Welsh peth thing

Derived forms of peat

  • peaty, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for peat (2 of 2)

peat2

/ (piːt) /


noun
  1. archaic, derogatory a person, esp a woman

  2. obsolete a term of endearment for a girl or woman

Origin of peat

2
C16: of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for peat

peat

[ pēt ]


  1. Partially decayed vegetable matter, especially peat moss, found in bogs. The low levels of oxygen and the acidic environment in bogs prevent the degradation of peat. Peat is burned as fuel and also used as fertilizer. See more at bog.

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