mulch
根覆い
解説 Definition
mulch は、植物の根元を覆うわら、木片、落ち葉などの「根覆い」という意味です。日本語でも「マルチ」と言いますが、英語では園芸用の覆い材そのものを指すことが多く、ビニール資材だけに限りません。
Mulch is a layer of material such as bark, wood chips, straw, or leaves spread over soil around plants. It helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature, and sometimes add organic matter as it decomposes.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
mulch は植物の根元を覆う木片・わら・落ち葉などの「根覆い材」。spread mulch around trees、a thick layer of mulch といった場面で覚える。日本語の農業用「マルチ」はビニールを連想しやすいが、英語の mulch は有機質の覆い材も広く含み、compost とは用途が異なる。
Think of mulch as a protective blanket spread over garden soil. Typical mulch includes bark, wood chips, straw, and fallen leaves, although other materials may also be used. Learn the practical combinations spread mulch around a tree, apply a layer of mulch, and mulch keeps the soil moist. This separates the English meaning from the narrower image Japanese learners may have of plastic agricultural sheeting. Mulch covers the surface to conserve moisture and limit weeds; compost is primarily added to improve and feed the soil, though organic mulch can gradually decompose and contribute organic matter too.
例文
We spread mulch around the young trees.
私たちは若い木の周りに根覆いを敷きました。
The mulch keeps the soil moist in summer.
その根覆いは夏に土の湿り気を保ってくれます。
A thick layer of mulch can reduce weeds in the garden.
厚く敷いた根覆いは庭の雑草を減らすのに役立ちます。
mulch の類義語・関連語
mulch の語源・成り立ち Etymology
ゲルマン語系に由来し、「柔らかく湿った土」を意味する北欧・オランダ方言語が変化しました。接辞の分解はなく、元来は堆肥そのものを指していました。土壌を意味するmoldと語源的に近く、「根元を覆い保湿する」役割が言葉の背景から直感的に理解できます。
Mulch is a Germanic word whose earlier history is not completely certain. It is associated with dialect words referring to soft, moist, or crumbling material and was once used of decaying vegetable matter or compost. Its modern gardening sense developed around material placed on the soil surface. It has also been compared historically with mold in the sense of loose earth or soil.
同じレベルの英単語をもっと
外部辞書で調べる
この単語を英単語クイズで覚えよう