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 Here, the forest floor was mostly free of vegetation, charred black in places, and littered with acorns. Ferris Jabr, The Atlantic, 25 June 2024 The mechanism is complicated, but here’s the gist: A lot of things that salamanders eat, including springtails and beetle larvae, chew up leaves on the forest floor. Benji Jones, Vox, 18 June 2024 Arizona Republic In the forest around Hart Prairie, about 14 miles north of Flagstaff, trees appear to be uprooting themselves and walking across the forest floor. Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 14 June 2024 Big fires historically have been a natural function, to clean the forest floor, put nutrients back into the soil and promote wildflower blooming, all part of healthy ecosystems adapted to fire over thousands of years. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forest floor 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forest floor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near forest floor

Cite this Entry

“Forest floor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forest%20floor. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

forest floor

noun
: the upper layer of mixed soil and decayed or decaying organic material typical of forested land
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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