forest floor

noun

: the richly organic layer of soil and debris characteristic of forested land

Examples of forest floor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Expect flavors like: Red cherries Raspberries Strawberries Sometimes a little earthiness (think mushrooms or damp forest floors in a romantic way, not a scary one) Good Pinot is all about elegance, balance, and subtlety. Emily Price, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025 Large but docile eastern indigo snakes rule the forest floor, though their rosy cheeks and lustrous bodies are rarely seen. Elise Bennett, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2025 The poured concrete floor, for example, showcases exposed aggregate with irregularity in scale and sheen similar to pebbles and rocks scattered across a forest floor. Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 10 May 2025 Now is the time for wildflowers — ephemerals that bloom when sunlight warms the forest floor before the leaves of trees completely emerge. Susan Koch, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for forest floor

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forest floor was in 1849

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Cite this Entry

“Forest floor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forest%20floor. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

forest floor

noun
: the upper layer of mixed soil and decayed or decaying organic material typical of forested land
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