/cherr"neuh zem', chair"-/ ; Russ. /chyirdd nu zyawm"/ , n.
a soil common in cool or temperate semiarid climates, very black and rich in humus and carbonates.
[ 1835-45; chernozëm, equiv. to chërn ( yi ) black + -o- -O- + -zëm, var., in compounds, of zemlyá earth, land; see HUMUS ]