English Dictionary — Definitions & Meanings

sodomy

noun

A legal and historical term for anal or oral sex, sometimes also used for bestiality; historically used to criminalize homosexual acts.

soe

noun

A large wooden tub or vessel for hauling water, traditionally slung on a pole and carried between two people.

sofa

noun

A long upholstered seat with a back and arms, meant for two or more people.

sofi

noun

An archaic spelling of Sufi.

Sofia

name

A feminine given name of Greek origin meaning "wisdom," also the name of the capital city of Bulgaria.

soft

adj

Giving way easily under pressure; not hard or firm.

soft spot

noun

A particular fondness or affection for someone or something, often one that overrides better judgement.

softback

noun

A book with a flexible paper cover rather than a hard one.

softball

noun

A team sport similar to baseball, played with a larger, softer ball.

softcover

adj

Bound with a flexible cover of paper or thin card rather than a hard one.

soften

verb

To make something soft or softer, or to become soft.

softened

adjective

Made less hard, harsh, or intense.

softener

noun

A substance or device used to make something less hard, rough, or harsh — such as hard water or fabric.

softening

noun

The process of becoming, or making something, less hard, harsh, or severe.

softhead

noun

(informal) A foolish or not very intelligent person.

softheaded

adj

(informal) Not able to think clearly or make sensible decisions.

softhearted

adj

Kind, gentle and caring towards other people.

softheartedness

noun

The quality of being kind and easily moved by other people's feelings.

Softie

noun

Informal slang for a Microsoft employee.

softly

adverb

In a gentle or quiet way; without force or loudness.

softness

noun

The quality of being soft, gentle, or yielding to pressure.

softship

noun

A situation that is easy, comfortable and convenient.

software

noun

Programs and coded instructions that run on a computer, as opposed to the physical hardware.

softy

noun

A person who is easily moved, overly kind, or reluctant to be strict.

soggy

adjective

Thoroughly wet and soft, often unpleasantly so.

Soho

proper noun

A well-known entertainment and nightlife district in central London.

soil

noun

The loose top layer of earth in which plants grow, made up of minerals, organic matter, and nutrients.

soiled

adjective

Dirty or stained.

soiree

noun

A formal party or gathering held in the evening.

sojourn

noun

A brief period spent living somewhere.

soju

noun

A clear, distilled Korean alcoholic drink, similar to vodka but typically lower in alcohol.

sol

noun

In solfège (do-re-mi), the fifth note of the musical scale, also known as "so" or "G."

solace

noun

Comfort received during a time of grief, loneliness, or distress.

Solana

proper noun

A surname of Spanish origin.

Solano

noun

A hot, dry easterly wind that blows across parts of Spain and the western Mediterranean.

solar

adjective

Relating to, coming from, or powered by the sun.

solarium

noun

A room or enclosed area designed to let in plenty of sunlight, sometimes used for tanning.

sold

adjective

Given up in exchange for money; also used informally to mean fully convinced or persuaded.

solder

noun

A metal alloy that melts easily and is used to join or coat metal parts, often small ones.

soldering

noun

The process of joining two pieces of metal by melting a filler metal between them.

soldier

noun

A person who serves in an army, especially one who is not an officer.

soldiering

noun

Serving as a soldier; the work and life of military service.

soldierly

adj

Typical of, or fitting for, a soldier.

soldiership

noun

The condition or role of being a soldier.

sole

adjective

Being the only one; single, exclusive.

solecism

noun

A mistake in speech, writing or behaviour that breaks the accepted rules.

Soledad

proper noun

A city in Monterey County, California, named after a Spanish mission.

soleil

noun

The French word for "sun," sometimes used in English contexts related to French culture or fashion.

solely

adverb

Only, exclusively, and nothing more.

solemn

adjective

Deeply serious, dignified, and free of humor, especially in formal or ceremonial settings.

solemnise

verb

A non-Oxford British English standard spelling of solemnize.

solemnity

noun

A serious, sober and dignified manner or feeling.

solemnization

noun

Carrying out a ceremony, such as a wedding, in a proper and dignified way.

solemnize

verb

To give something formal or official standing by means of a ceremony or legal procedure.

solemnly

adverb

In a serious and dignified manner.

solfatara

noun

A place near a volcano where steam containing sulphur escapes from the ground.

solicit

verb

To ask for or try to obtain something, often persistently or formally.

solicitation

noun

The act of asking for something, such as money, support, or business.

soliciting

noun

The act of asking for money, business, or, illegally, for paid sex.

solicitor

noun

In the UK and similar legal systems, a lawyer who advises clients and handles legal paperwork, as distinct from a barrister who argues cases in court.

solicitous

adj

Keen to get something wanted, or anxious to avoid something bad.

solicitude

noun

A feeling of worry caused by fear of harm or a wish for something good to happen.

solid

adjective

Firm and stable in structure; not liquid or gas.

solidarity

noun

Unity and mutual support among people who share a common goal, cause, or hardship.

solidification

noun

The process of turning into a solid.

solidify

verb

To become solid, or to make something firm and solid.

solidifying

noun

The process by which something turns solid.

solidity

noun

The quality of being firm and solid rather than liquid or soft.

solidly

adverb

In a firm, sturdy, or dependable way.

solidness

noun

The quality of being solid and firm.

solidus

noun

Various coins or units of money used in medieval and early modern times.

soliloquy

noun

A speech in a play in which a character, alone on stage, speaks their thoughts aloud so the audience can hear them.

soliman

name

A surname of Spanish, an anglicization and Filipino form of Solimán, or transliteration of the Arabic surname سليمان origin.

solipsism

noun

The notion that either the self is the only thing there is, or it is the only thing whose existence can be demonstrated.

solipsistic

adj

Relating to solipsism, or having a tendency towards it.

Solis

proper noun

A surname of Spanish origin.

solitaire

noun

A card game played by one person alone.

solitariness

noun

The state of being alone or solitary.

solitary

adjective

Alone; without any companions present.

solitude

noun

The state of being alone, whether by choice or circumstance.

solitudinarian

noun

A person who stays alone, keeping to themselves.

Solloway

name

An English surname, likely derived from a place name.

solo

noun

A piece of music, or a section of one, performed by a single musician.

soloist

noun

A musician who performs a solo, or who mainly performs alone rather than as part of a group.

Solomon

name

A king of ancient Israel renowned in the Bible and Quran for his exceptional wisdom, and the son of King David.

solon

noun

A wise, skilled lawmaker; more loosely, any legislator or politician (often used with a hint of irony).

solovay

name

A surname of Ukrainian origin.

solovei

name

A transliteration of the Ukrainian surname Соловей (Solovej).

solovey

name

A transliteration of the Ukrainian surname Соловей (Solovej)

solovyev

name

The Russian surname Соловьёв (Solovʹjóv), given in transliterated form.

Solovyov

name

A Russian surname derived from "solovey," meaning "nightingale."

soloway

name

A surname of Ukrainian origin.

solrise

noun

The moment when the sun appears to rise above the horizon of a planet.

solstice

noun

Either of the two days each year when the sun reaches its furthest point north or south of the equator, giving the longest or shortest day of the year.

solubility

noun

The extent to which a substance will dissolve in a given liquid, usually stated as the maximum amount that dissolves in a set volume at a set temperature.

solution

noun

An answer to a problem or a way of resolving a difficulty.

solve

verb

To find the answer to a problem, puzzle, or question.

solved

adjective

Having been worked out, answered, or explained.

solvent

noun

A liquid that dissolves another substance to form a solution.

solver

noun

A person or program that works out the answer to a problem.

som

noun

The basic unit of currency in Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan.

soma

noun

The whole physical body of an organism, as opposed to the mind or soul.

somaclone

noun

A plant grown from the cells of another plant using tissue culture.

somaesthetics

noun

The study of the body and how we experience, use and understand it.

Somali

name

A Cushitic language spoken mainly in Somalia and nearby parts of the Horn of Africa.

Somalia

name

A country in the Horn of Africa, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, with its capital at Mogadishu.

somalian

adj

Relating to the government or state of Somalia.

somascope

noun

An early type of scanner that used sound waves to examine a patient lying in water.

somatic

adjective

Relating to the body rather than the mind, especially in medicine and psychology.

somatoform

adj

Not caused by any physical or organic problem.

somber

adjective

Serious, gloomy and without cheerfulness, in a way that suits grief or bad news.

somberness

noun

The quality of being dark, gloomy or serious in mood.

sombre

adjective

Dark, dim, or lacking in brightness.

sombrero

noun

A hat with a very wide brim and tall crown, traditionally worn in Mexico for protection from the sun.

some

determiner

An unspecified but limited amount or number of something.

somebody

pronoun

An unspecified or unknown person.

someday

adverb

At an unspecified time in the future.

somehow

adverb

By some means not specified or fully understood.

someone

pronoun

An unspecified or unidentified person.

someplace

adverb

To or in an unspecified place; somewhere.

Somers

name

An English surname derived from a place name or occupational term for a summer worker.

somersault

noun

A full 360-degree roll of the body, forwards or backwards, either in the air or on the ground, so the feet pass over the head.

somersaulting

noun

The act of doing a somersault.

Somerset

name

A county in South West England, also used as a given name or surname.

somesthesis

noun

All of the various sensory systems in the skin and other bodily tissues responsible for the senses of touch-pressure, warmth and coldness, pain, itch together with positioning and movement

something

pronoun

An unspecified or unknown thing.

sometime

adverb

At an unspecified point in the past or future.

sometimes

adverb

On certain occasions but not always.

someway

adverb

In some way; somehow.

someways

adv

In some way that is not stated exactly.

somewhat

adverb

To a limited or moderate degree; not completely.

somewhen

adv

At some point in time; at an unspecified time.

somewhere

adverb

At, in, or to an unspecified or unknown place.

somewheres

adverb

A dialectal or informal form of "somewhere".

Somme

name

A river in northern France, historically significant as the site of a major First World War battle.

sommelier

noun

A trained wine expert at a restaurant who manages the wine list and advises diners on their choice.

Sommer

name

A surname of German origin, from the word for "summer."

somnambular

adj

In or resembling a sleeping state.

somnambulation

noun

The general act of walking about while asleep.

somnambulist

noun

Someone who gets up and moves around while still asleep.

somnolent

adj

Feeling ready to fall asleep.

somnolescent

adj

Growing drowsy and starting to nod off.

somnolism

noun

The condition of being in a trance brought on by hypnosis.

son

noun

A person's male child.

Sona

name

A feminine given name used in South Asian and other cultures, often a short form of names like Sonia.

sonar

noun

A method of locating objects underwater by sending out sound waves and reading the echoes that bounce back.

sonata

noun

A piece of instrumental music, often for piano or piano with one other instrument, written in several contrasting movements.

sonder

noun

The sudden realisation that every stranger you pass is living a life as full, detailed and complicated as your own.

Sondra

name

A feminine given name, a variant of Sandra.

Sone

noun

A devoted fan of the K-pop girl group Girls' Generation.