loam

noun

ˈlōm 

 chiefly Northern & Midland  ˈlüm,

 New England also  ˈlu̇m

1

a

: a mixture (as for plastering) composed chiefly of moistened clay

b

: a coarse molding sand used in founding (see found entry 5)

2

: soil

specifically : a soil consisting of a friable mixture of varying proportions of clay, silt, and sand

loamy

ˈlō-mē 

ˈlü-

ˈlu̇-

adjective

Examples of loam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The soils consist of clay, limestone, and gravel loams. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Conspiracy of the flesh is Kennedy’s root allure, the bloody loam of his candidacy, and maybe even his psyche. —Time, 9 Aug. 2023

Dense aromas of cassis, mocha and spiced blackberry are sandwiched between earthy loam below and hints of florals above. —Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2021

The thin topsoil, never enriched here by glaciers that dragged loam over other parts of the Midwest, offered only a subsistence existence. —Doug Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lom, from Old English lām clay, mud; akin to Old English līm lime

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing loam

• clay loam

Kids Definition

loam

noun

ˈlōm 

: soil entry 3 sense 2

especially : a soil consisting of a loose easily crumbled mixture of varying amounts of clay, silt, and sand

loamy

ˈlō-mē 

adjective