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NOTEEarth 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(especiallyNAmE) 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。NOTEGround is not used for loose soil. * ground 不用以指松土、散土：◆a handful of dry ground
