Word of the Day: Compost

compost com-post / kŏm-pōst noun 1. the product from the decomposition of organic materials such as yard waste, used to provide nutrients to soil The gardener knows how to turn garbage into compost. Kayla Mueller, 1988 – 2015 verb 1. to use the decomposed mixture of organic materials or to create such a mixture Food scraps and yard waste together currently make up more than 28 percent of what we throw away, and should be composted instead. “Composting at Home”, www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home 2. to add decomposed organic material to soil to fertilize it She bought seeds and raided nurseries and mulched and composted and spent full days with her hands full of earth, coaxing life out of the dry, dull grass my father had spent years pushing a mower over. From “The Summer” by Sarah Dessen, 1970 – Etymology from the Latin compositus, the past passive participle of the Latin verb compono, componere, composui, compositus (put together, combine) Thanks to Allen Ward for this etymology.