noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/mʌlt͡ʃ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ʌltʃ
CMU ARPABET:M AH1 L CH
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Any material used to cover the top layer of soil to protect, insulate, or decorate it, or to discourage weeds or retain moisture.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Probably from Middle English melsche, molsh (“soft”), from Old English melsċ, milisċ (“mellow; mild; sweet”, literally “honeyed”), probably from Proto-Germanic *mili (“honey”). Compare Icelandic milska (“a honeyed beverage”).
Across languages
Translations
44 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
encoixinat
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Catalan:
jaç protector
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Catalan:
coberta del conreu
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Chinese Mandarin:
覆蓋物 /覆盖物
(fùgàiwù)
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Dutch:
mulch
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Dutch:
bodembedekking
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Esperanto:
mulĉo
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Estonian:
multš
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Finnish:
lehtikate
— shredded matter for covering the soil
French:
paillis
— shredded matter for covering the soil
French:
paillage
— shredded matter for covering the soil
German:
Mulch
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Hungarian:
mulcs
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Hungarian:
talajtakarás
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Irish:
móta
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Italian:
pacciame
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Mongolian:
хучлага
(xučlaga)
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Mongolian:
ᠬᠤᠴᠢᠯᠭᠠ
(qučilɣ-a)
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Polish:
mulcz
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Portuguese:
manta
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Portuguese:
humo
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Russian:
му́льча
(múlʹča)
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Spanish:
mantillo
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Spanish:
aserrín
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Swedish:
komposttäckning
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Swedish:
täckmedel
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Turkish:
malç
— shredded matter for covering the soil
Ukrainian:
мульча
(mulʹča)
— shredded matter for covering the soil
