1. Plural of lithosol; shallow, underdeveloped soils formed on hard rock with minimal organic matter and little weathering.
Usage: technical; soil science; chiefly used in soil classification systems

Examples

• Lithosols are commonly found in mountainous regions where bedrock is close to the surface.
• The farmer struggled to cultivate crops on the lithosols covering the hillside.
• Geologists identified lithosols in the rocky terrain of the plateau.
• Lithosols typically contain less than 10 centimeters of soil material above the parent rock.
• The sparse vegetation on lithosols reflects the harsh growing conditions.