mulch

Probably from Middle English melsche, molsh (“soft”), from Old English melsc, milisc (“mellow; mild; sweet”, literally “honeyed”), probably from Proto-Germanic *mili (“honey”). Compare Icelandic milska (“a honeyed beverage”).

• IPA^(key): /mʌltʃ/
• Rhymes: -ʌltʃ

mulch (countable and uncountable, plural mulches)

1. (agriculture, horticulture) Any material used to cover the top layer of soil to protect, insulate, or decorate it, or to discourage weeds or retain moisture.

   An organic mulch is a mulch made of natural substances such as leaves or grass clippings.

2. (countable, agriculture) A material used as mulch, as a decorative redwood bark mulch.

• inorganic mulch
• mulch depth
• organic mulch

• compost
• humus

mulch (third-person singular simple present mulches, present participle mulching, simple past and past participle mulched)

1. (agriculture) To apply mulch.

   Mulch your vegetable garden to retain moisture and keep weeds down.

2. (agriculture) To turn into mulch.

   I decided to mulch the grass clippings.

• mulcher
• mulching mower