These are all words for the top layer of the earth in which plants grow. 以上各词均指土壤。

• soil the top layer of the earth in which plants grow 指土壤：◆Plant the seedlings in damp soil. 把幼苗种在湿润的土壤里。
• mud wet soil that is soft and sticky 指泥、淤泥、泥浆：◆The car wheels got stuck in the mud. 汽车轮子陷到泥里去了。
• dust a fine powder that consists of very small pieces of rock, earth, etc. 指沙石、沙土、尘土：◆A cloud of dust rose as the truck set off. 卡车起动时扬起一片灰尘。
• clay a type of heavy sticky soil that becomes hard when it is baked and is used to make things such as pots and bricks 指黏土、陶土：◆The tiles are made of clay. 这些砖是用陶土制成的。
• land an area of ground, especially of a particular type 尤指某种类型的地带、土地：◆an area of rich, fertile land 土地富饶肥沃的地域
• earth the substance that plants grow in 指土、泥、泥土 NOTE Earth is often used about the soil found in gardens or used for gardening. * earth 常用以指花园里或种花用的泥土：◆She put some earth into the pot. 她在花盆里放了一些泥土。
• dirt (especially NAmE) soil, especially loose soil 指泥土，尤指松土、散土：◆Pack the dirt firmly around the plants. 将植物周围的土培实。
• ground an area of soil 指土地：◆The car got stuck in the muddy ground. 汽车陷到泥地里了。◆They drove across miles of rough, stony ground. 他们驶过数英里崎岖不平、多石的土地。 NOTE Ground is not used for loose soil. * ground 不用以指松土、散土：◆a handful of dry ground

Patterns

• good/rich soil/land/earth
• fertile/infertile soil/land/ground
• to dig the soil/mud/clay/land/earth/ground
• to cultivate the soil/land/ground