peat

/pit/

/pit/

Other forms: peats

Peat is a rich, dark, dirt-like material that's made from decomposed organic matter. You can use peat in gardens and potted plants, to help the soil stay moist.

Peat is like a naturally occurring compost — it forms in bogs from plants that have broken down. In many parts of the world, peat is burned as a fuel, and in others it's a popular mulch in gardens and on farms. If it's left to continue decomposing for many years, peat eventually turns into lignite, a low-grade coal that can also be burned for heat or as an energy source.

Definitions of peat

1. noun

   partially carbonized vegetable matter saturated with water; can be used as a fuel when dried
   type of:

   humate

   material that is high in humic acids

   vegetable matter

   matter produced by plants or growing in the manner of a plant