cover crop

noun

: a crop planted to prevent soil erosion and to provide humus

Examples of cover crop in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Avoid unnecessary tillage, which can break fungal hyphae, and keep living roots in the ground when practical through perennial plantings or compatible cover crops such as annual ryegrass and crimson clover. — Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 Leave healthy dead plants or cover crops like rye to boost soil and block weeds. — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 8 Aug. 2026 Prevent exposed roots by planting cover crops, applying mulch, and watering deeply to encourage healthier root growth. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 19 July 2026 Clover, mugwort and radish act as cover crops around the tea trees at Wild Orchard, protecting the soil from the sun’s powerful rays and adding their unique nutritional profiles to the underground ecosystem. — Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cover crop

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cover crop was in 1899

Rhymes for cover crop

See All Rhymes for cover crop

Browse Nearby Words

coverchief
cover crop
Coverdale
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Cite this Entry

“Cover crop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover%20crop. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

cover crop

noun
: a crop planted to prevent soil erosion and to provide humus

More from Merriam-Webster on cover crop

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cover crop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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