noun
marl
MARL
Marl (noun) means a soil-like mixture of clay and lime, sometimes with sand, in varying proportions. Example: “Farmers once spread marl on fields to improve the soil.”
noun
1
technical A soil-like mixture of clay and lime, sometimes with sand, in varying proportions.
"Farmers once spread marl on fields to improve the soil."
"The cliff was made of soft grey marl."
"The pit had been dug into a bed of marl."
verb
1
technical To cover ground with marl.
"They marled the field before planting."
"Farmers would marl the heavy clay soil to make it more fertile."
How to use marl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA chalky, clay-rich kind of earth.
When to use it
It is a specialist word used in geology and farming.
Common pairings
clay marl
marl soil
a marl pit
calcareous marl
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Farmers once spread _____ on fields to improve the soil.
Etymology
Marl came into English from Middle English marle, from Old French marle, from Late Latin margila. Margila was a diminutive of marga, meaning marl.
Rhymes for marl
See all rhymes for marl →Frequently asked questions
What is marl?
Marl is an earthy mixture of lime, clay and sometimes sand, in varying proportions.
How do you pronounce marl?
In British English it sounds like "mahl"; in American English the r is pronounced, as in "snarl" without the sn.
Can marl be a verb?
Yes. To marl ground means to cover it with marl.
What is the meaning of marl?
"marl" (noun) means a soil-like mixture of clay and lime, sometimes with sand, in varying proportions.
