[hyoo-muh
s or, often, yoo-] 
| the dark organic material in soils, produced by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter and essential to the fertility of the earth. |
| hum·mus also hum·us or hom·mos (hŏŏm'əs, hŭm'-) n. A smooth thick mixture of mashed chickpeas, tahini, oil, lemon juice, and garlic, used especially as a dip for pita. [Colloquial Arabic ḥummuṣ, chickpea, variant of Arabic ḥimmaṣ, ḥimmiṣ.] |
| hu·mus 1 (hyōō'məs) n. A brown or black organic substance consisting of partially or wholly decayed vegetable or animal matter that provides nutrients for plants and increases the ability of soil to retain water. [Latin, soil; see dhghem- in Indo-European roots.] |
humus (hy 'məs) Pronunciation Key
A dark-brown or black organic substance made up of decayed plant or animal matter. Humus provides nutrients for plants and increases the ability of soil to retain water. |
n