From Middle English compost, from fro-nor compost, from Latin compositus, from componere.

• (British) IPA: /ˈkɒmpɒst/
• (America) IPA: /ˈkɑmpoʊst/

compost

1. The decayed remains of organic matter that has rotted into a natural fertilizer.

   Dig plenty of compost into clay or sandy soil to improve its structure.

   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene iv]:

     And do not spread the compost on the weeds / To make them ranker.

2. (UK) A medium in which one can cultivate plants.

   Once the seed tray is filled with compost, insert the seeds spaced 3 cm apart from one another.

3. (obsolete) A mixture; a compound.
   • a. 1660, Henry Hammond, God's Complaint Against Revolters:

     A sad compost of more bitter than sweet.

• French: compost
• German: Kompost
• Italian: compost
• Portuguese: composto
• Russian: компо́ст
• Spanish: compost

compost (composts, present participle composting; simple past and past participle composted)

1. To produce compost, let organic matter decay into fertilizer.

   If you compost your grass clippings, you can improve your soil.

• German: kompostieren
• Italian: compostare
• Portuguese: compostar
• Spanish: compostar