manure

1 of 2

verb

ma·​nure mə-ˈnu̇r 

-ˈnyu̇r,

-ˈn(y)ü-ər

manured; manuring

transitive verb

1

obsolete : cultivate

2

: to enrich (land) by the application of manure

manurer noun

manure

2 of 2

noun

: material that fertilizes land

especially : refuse of stables and barnyards consisting of livestock excreta with or without litter

manurial

mə-ˈn(y)u̇r-ē-əl 

adjective

Examples of manure in a Sentence

Noun

a bag of cow manure

fertilizers made from animal manures

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Bailey and other Nelsonville residents were profiled in a Wausau Daily Herald story in 2020 about their fears that manure from a CAFO about a mile from the small Portage County community was leaching nitrogen into their groundwater. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024

Is manure the future of fuel? —Maria Jimenez Moya, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2022

Noun

That report went on to detail how the agency had reportedly failed to set standards for agricultural water intended to keep manure and other pathogen sources out of water used to grow produce. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 24 Oct. 2024

Fall is also the best time to add manure to your garden since fresh manure can burn growing plants, and even aged manure can pose a health hazard if it’s applied to gardens around harvest time. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English manouren, from Anglo-French mainouverer, meinourer to till (land), construct, create, from Medieval Latin manu operare to perform manual labor, from Latin manu by hand + operari to work — more at operate

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing manure

• green manure

Kids Definition

manure

1 of 2 verb

ma·​nure mə-ˈn(y)u̇(ə)r 

manured; manuring

: to enrich by applying manure

manure a field

manure

2 of 2 noun

: material that fertilizes land

especially : bodily waste from birds and animals in stables and barnyards with or without litter