so ['sō, esp before adj or adv followed by “that”] -adv

  1. in a manner or way indicated or suggested
    • do you really think so
    often used as a substitute for a preceding clause
    • are you ready? I think so
    • I didn't like it and I told her so
  2. in the same manner or way : also
    • worked hard and so did she
  3. thus
    • for so the Lord said -- Isa 18:4(AV)
  4. then, subsequently
    • and so home and to bed
  5. to an indicated or suggested extent or degree
    • had never been so happy
  6. to a great extent or degree : very, extremely
    • loves her so
  7. to a definite but unspecified extent or degree
    • can only do so much in a day
  8. most certainly : indeed
    • you did so do it
  9. most decidedly : surely
    • I so don't believe you
  10. therefore, consequently
    • the witness is biased and so unreliable
  11. with the result that
    • the acoustics are good, so every note is clear
  12. in order that
    • be quiet so he can sleep
  13. provided that
  14. for that reason : therefore
    • don't want to go, so I won't
  15. used as an introductory particle
    • so here we are
    often to belittle a point under discussion
    • so what?
  16. used interjectionally to indicate awareness of a discovery
    • so, that's who did it
    or surprised dissent
  17. conforming with actual facts : true
    • said things that were not so
  18. marked by a desired order
    • his books are always just so
  19. used to replace a preceding adjective
    • was witty by adult standards and of course doubly so by mine -- Sally Kempton
  20. such as has been specified or suggested : the same
    • if you have to file a claim, do so as soon as possible
  21. used in the phrase or so to indicate an estimate, approximation, or conjecture
    • stayed a week or so
    • cost 15 or so

so ['sōl] -n

(variant of sol)

  1. the fifth tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  2. an old French coin equal to 12 deniers
  3. a corresponding unit of value
  4. the basic monetary unit of Peru before 1985 and since 1990
  5. a fluid colloidal system
  6. one in which the medium is a liquid
  7. soluble

SO -abbr

  1. seller's option
  2. strikeout

soak ['sōk] -vb, n

  1. to lie immersed in liquid (as water) : become saturated by or as if by immersion
  2. to enter or pass through something by or as if by pores or interstices : permeate
  3. to penetrate or affect the mind or feelings usu. used with in or into
  4. to drink alcoholic beverages intemperately
  5. to permeate so as to wet, soften, or fill thoroughly
  6. to place in a surrounding element (as liquid) to wet or permeate thoroughly
  7. to extract by or as if by steeping
    • soak the dirt out
  8. to draw or take in by or as if by suction or absorption
    • soak ed up the sunshine
  9. to intoxicate (oneself) by drinking alcoholic beverages
  10. to cause to pay an exorbitant amount
  11. the act or process of soaking : the state of being soaked
  12. that (as liquid) in which something is soaked
  13. drunkard
  14. pawn

soandso ['sō-ən-,sō] -n

  1. an unnamed or unspecified person, thing, or action
  2. bastard
  3. to an unspecified amount or degree
  4. in an unspecified manner or fashion

soap ['sōp] -n

  1. a cleansing and emulsifying agent made usu. by action of alkali on fat or fatty acids and consisting essentially of sodium or potassium salts of such acids
  2. a salt of a fatty acid and a metal
  3. soap opera
  4. to rub soap over or into
  5. flatter

soap·bark ['sōp-,bärk] -n

  1. a Chilean tree ( Quillaja saponaria) of the rose family with glossy leaves and terminal white flowers
  2. its saponin-rich bark used in cleaning and in emulsifying oils

soap·ber·ry [-,ber-ē] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Sapindusof the family Sapindaceae, the soapberry family) of chiefly tropical woody plants
  2. the fruit of a soapberry and esp. of a tree ( S. saponaria) that is saponin-rich and used as a soap substitute

soap·box [-,bäks] -n, adj

  1. an improvised platform used by a self-appointed, spontaneous, or informal orator
  2. something that provides an outlet for delivering opinions

soap bubble -n

  1. a hollow iridescent globe formed by blowing a film of soapsuds (as from a pipe)

soap·er ['sō-pər] -n

  1. soap opera

soap opera ['sōp-,ä-pə-'ra-tik] -n, adj

  1. a serial drama performed orig. on a daytime radio or television program and chiefly characterized by tangled interpersonal situations and melodramatic or sentimental treatment
  2. a series of real-life events resembling a soap opera
  3. the melodrama and sentimentality characteristic of a soap opera
    • even cops need a little soap opera in their lives -- Joseph Wambaugh
  4. something (as a novel) having such qualities

soap plant -n

  1. a plant having a part (as a root or fruit) that may be used in place of soap
  2. a California plant ( Chlorogalum pomeridianum) of the lily family

soap·stone ['sōp-,stōn] -n

  1. a soft stone having a soapy feel and composed essentially of talc, chlorite, and often some magnetite

soap·suds [-,sədz] -n pl

  1. suds

soap·wort [-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n

  1. bouncing bet

soapy ['sō-pē] -adj, adv, n

  1. smeared with soap : lathered
  2. containing or combined with soap or saponin
  3. resembling or having the qualities of soap
  4. being smooth and slippery
  5. unctuous, suave
  6. of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a soap opera

soar ['sȯr] -vi, n

  1. to fly aloft or about
  2. to sail or hover in the air often at a great height : glide
  3. to fly without engine power and without loss of altitude
  4. to rise or increase dramatically (as in position, value, or price)
    • stocks soar ed
  5. to ascend to a higher or more exalted level
    • makes my spirits soar
  6. to rise to majestic stature
  7. the range, distance, or height attained in soaring
  8. the act of soaring : upward flight

soar·ing -n

  1. the act or process of soaring
  2. the act or sport of flying a heavier-than-air craft without power by utilizing ascending air currents

Soa·ve ['swä-(,)vā] -n

  1. a dry white Italian wine

sob ['säb] -vb

  1. to catch the breath audibly in a spasmodic contraction of the throat
  2. to cry or weep with convulsive catching of the breath
  3. to make a sound like that of a sob or sobbing
  4. to bring (as oneself) to a specified state by sobbing
    • sobbed himself to sleep
  5. to utter with sobs
    • sobbed out her grief
  6. an act of sobbing
  7. a sound like that of a sob

SOB [,es-,ō-'bē] -n

  1. bastard , son of a bitch

so·ba ['sō-bə] -n

  1. a Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour

so·ber ['sō-bər] -adj, adv, n

  1. sparing in the use of food and drink : abstemious
  2. not addicted to intoxicating drink
  3. not drunk
  4. marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor
  5. unhurried, calm
  6. marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness
    • a sober candlelight vigil
  7. subdued in tone or color
  8. showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice

sober [-b(ə-)riŋ] -vb

  1. to make sober
  2. to become sober usu. used with up

so·ber·ing -adj

  1. tending to make one thoughtful or sober

so·ber·ize ['sō-bə-,rīz] -vt

  1. to make sober

so·ber·sid·ed [,sō-bər-'sī-dəd] -adj, n

  1. solemn or serious in nature or appearance

so·ber·sides ['sō-bər-,sīdz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. a sobersided person

so·bri·ety [sə-'brī-ə-tē, sō-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being sober

so·bri·quet ['sō-bri-,kā, -,ket, ,sō-bri-'] -n

  1. a descriptive name or epithet : nickname

sob sister -n

  1. a journalist who specializes in writing or editing sob stories or other material of a sentimental type
  2. a sentimental and often impractical person usu. engaged in good works

sob story -n

  1. a sentimental story or account intended chiefly to evoke sympathy or sadness

soc -abbr

  1. social
  2. society
  3. sociology

so·ca ['sō-kə, -kä] -n

  1. a blend of soul and calypso music

so·cage ['sä-kij, 'sō-] -n

  1. a tenure of land by agricultural service fixed in amount and kind or by payment of money rent only and not burdened with any military service

socalled ['sō-'kȯld] -adj

  1. commonly named : popularly so termed
    • the socalled pocket veto
  2. falsely or improperly so named
    • deceived by a socalled friend

soc·cer ['sä-kər] -n

  1. a game played on a field between two teams of 11 players each with the object to propel a round ball into the opponent's goal by kicking or by hitting it with any part of the body except the hands and arms called also association football

soccer mom -n

  1. a typically suburban mother who accompanies her children to their soccer games and is considered as part of a significant voting bloc or demographic group

so·cia·bil·i·ty [,sō-shə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being sociable
  2. the act or an instance of being sociable

so·cia·ble ['sō-shə-bəl] -adj, n, adv

  1. inclined by nature to companionship with others of the same species : social
  2. inclined to seek or enjoy companionship
  3. marked by or conducive to friendliness or pleasant social relations

sociable -n

  1. an informal social gathering frequently involving a special activity or interest

so·cial ['sō-shəl] -adj

  1. involving allies or confederates
    • the Social War between the Athenians and their allies
  2. marked by or passed in pleasant companionship with one's friends or associates
    • leads a very full social life
  3. sociable
  4. of, relating to, or designed for sociability
    • a social club
  5. of or relating to human society, the interaction of the individual and the group, or the welfare of human beings as members of society
    • social institutions
  6. tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others of one's kind : gregarious
  7. living and breeding in more or less organized communities
    • social insects
  8. tending to grow in groups or masses so as to form a pure stand
  9. of, relating to, or based on rank or status in a particular society
    • a member of our social set
  10. of, relating to, or characteristic of the upper classes
  11. formal
  12. being such in social situations
    • a social drinker

social -n

  1. sociable

social climber -n

  1. one who attempts to gain a higher social position or acceptance in fashionable society

social contract -n

  1. an actual or hypothetical agreement among the members of an organized society or between a community and its ruler that defines and limits the rights and duties of each

social Darwinism -n, n or adj

  1. an extension of Darwinism to social phenomena
  2. a sociological theory that sociocultural advance is the product of intergroup conflict and competition and the socially elite classes (as those possessing wealth and power) possess biological superiority in the struggle for existence

social democracy -n, adj

  1. a political movement advocating a gradual and peaceful transition from capitalism to socialism by democratic means
  2. a democratic welfare state that incorporates both capitalist and socialist practices

social disease -n

  1. venereal disease
  2. a disease (as tuberculosis) whose incidence is directly related to social and economic factors

social engineering -n

  1. management of human beings in accordance with their place and function in society : applied social science

social gospel -n

  1. the application of Christian principles to social problems
  2. a movement in American Protestant Christianity esp. in the first part of the 20th century to bring the social order into conformity with Christian principles

social insurance -n

  1. protection of the individual against economic hazards (as unemployment, old age, or disability) in which the government participates or enforces the participation of employers and affected individuals

so·cial·ise ['sō-shə-,līz] -vb, n

(variant of socialize)

  1. to make social
  2. to fit or train for a social environment
  3. to constitute on a socialistic basis
    • socialize industry
  4. to adapt to social needs or uses
  5. to organize group participation in
    • socialize a recitation
  6. to participate actively in a social group

so·cial·ism ['sō-shə-,li-zəm] -n

  1. any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
  2. a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
  3. a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
  4. a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

so·cial·ist ['sō-sh(ə-)list] -n, adj, adv

  1. one who advocates or practices socialism
  2. a member of a party or political group advocating socialism

socialist realism -n, n or adj

  1. a Marxist aesthetic theory calling for the didactic use of literature, art, and music to develop social consciousness in an evolving socialist state

so·cial·ite ['sō-shə-,līt] -n

  1. a socially prominent person

so·ci·al·i·ty [,sō-shē-'a-lə-tē] -n

  1. sociability
  2. an instance of social intercourse or sociability
  3. the tendency to associate in or form social groups

so·cial·ize ['sō-shə-,līz] -vb, n

  1. to make social
  2. to fit or train for a social environment
  3. to constitute on a socialistic basis
    • socialize industry
  4. to adapt to social needs or uses
  5. to organize group participation in
    • socialize a recitation
  6. to participate actively in a social group

socialized medicine -n

  1. medical and hospital services for the members of a class or population administered by an organized group (as a state agency) and paid for from funds obtained usu. by assessments, philanthropy, or taxation

so·cial·ly ['sō-sh(ə-)lē] -adv

  1. in a social manner
  2. with respect to society
  3. by or through society

so·cialmind·ed [,sō-shəl-'mīn-dəd] -adj

  1. having an interest in society
  2. actively interested in social welfare or the well-being of society as a whole

social promotion -n

  1. the practice of promoting a student from one grade level to the next on the basis of age rather than academic achievement

social psychology -n

  1. the study of the manner in which the personality, attitudes, motivations, and behavior of the individual influence and are influenced by social groups

social science -n

  1. a branch of science that deals with the institutions and functioning of human society and with the interpersonal relationships of individuals as members of society
  2. a science (as economics or political science) dealing with a particular phase or aspect of human society

social secretary -n

  1. a personal secretary employed to handle social correspondence and appointments

social security -n

  1. the principle or practice or a program of public provision (as through social insurance or assistance) for the economic security and social welfare of the individual and his or her family
  2. a U.S. government program established in 1935 to include old-age and survivors insurance, contributions to state unemployment insurance, and old-age assistance
  3. money paid out through a social security program
    • began collecting social security

social service -n

  1. an activity designed to promote social well-being
  2. organized philanthropic assistance (as of the disabled or disadvantaged)

social studies -n pl

  1. a part of a school or college curriculum concerned with the study of social relationships and the functioning of society and usu. made up of courses in history, government, economics, civics, sociology, geography, and anthropology

social welfare -n

  1. organized public or private social services for the assistance of disadvantaged groups
  2. social work

social work -n

  1. any of various professional activities or methods concretely concerned with providing social services and esp. with the investigation, treatment, and material aid of the economically, physically, mentally, or socially disadvantaged

so·ci·e·tal [sə-'sī-ə-tᵊl] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to society : social
    • societal forces

so·ci·e·ty [sə-'sī-ə-tē] -n

  1. companionship or association with one's fellows : friendly or intimate intercourse : company
  2. a voluntary association of individuals for common ends
  3. an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or profession
  4. an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another
  5. a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests
  6. a part of a community that is a unit distinguishable by particular aims or standards of living or conduct : a social circle or a group of social circles having a clearly marked identity
    • literary society
  7. a part of the community that sets itself apart as a leisure class and that regards itself as the arbiter of fashion and manners
  8. a natural group of plants usu. of a single species or habit within an association
  9. the progeny of a pair of insects when constituting a social unit (as a hive of bees)
  10. an interdependent system of organisms or biological units

society -adj

  1. of, relating to, or typical of fashionable society

So·cin·i·an [sə-'si-nē-ən, sō-] -n, adj

  1. an adherent of a 16th and 17th century theological movement professing belief in God and adherence to the Christian Scriptures but denying the divinity of Christ and consequently denying the Trinity

socio- -comb form

  1. society : social
    • socio gram
  2. social and
    • socio political

so·cio·bi·ol·o·gy [,sō-sē-ō-bī-'ä-lə-jē, ,sō-shē-] -n, adj

  1. the comparative study of social organization and behavior in animals including humans esp. with regard to its genetic basis and evolutionary history

so·cio·cul·tur·al [-'kəlch-rəl, -'kəl-chə-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or involving a combination of social and cultural factors

so·cio·eco·nom·ic [-,e-kə-'nä-mik, -,ē-kə-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or involving a combination of social and economic factors

so·cio·gram ['sō-sē-ə-,gram, 'sō-shē-] -n

  1. a sociometric chart plotting the structure of interpersonal relations in a group situation

so·cio·his·tor·i·cal [,sō-sē-ō-his-'tȯr-i-kəl, ,sō-shē-, -'tär-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving social history or a combination of social and historical factors

so·cio·lin·guis·tic [-liŋ-'gwis-tik] -adj

  1. of or relating to the social aspects of language
  2. of or relating to sociolinguistics

so·cio·lin·guis·tics [-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr, n

  1. the study of linguistic behavior as determined by sociocultural factors

so·ci·ol·o·gese [,sō-sē-,ä-lə-'jēz, ,sō-shē-, -'jēs] -n

  1. a style of writing held to be characteristic of sociologists

so·cio·log·i·cal [,sō-sē-ə-'lä-ji-kəl, ,sō-sh(ē-)ə-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to sociology or to the methodological approach of sociology
  2. oriented or directed toward social needs and problems

so·ci·ol·o·gy [,sō-sē-'ä-lə-jē, ,sō-shē-] -n

  1. the science of society, social institutions, and social relationships
  2. the systematic study of the development, structure, interaction, and collective behavior of organized groups of human beings
  3. the scientific analysis of a social institution as a functioning whole and as it relates to the rest of society
  4. synecology

so·ci·om·e·try [-'ä-mə-trē] -n, adj

  1. the study and measurement of interpersonal relationships in a group of people

so·cio·path ['sō-sē-ə-,path, 'sō-sh(ē-)ə-] -n

  1. a sociopathic individual : psychopath

so·cio·path·ic [,sō-sē-ə-'pa-thik, ,sō-sh(ē-)ə-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characterized by asocial or antisocial behavior or exhibiting antisocial personality disorder

so·cio·po·lit·i·cal [,sō-sē-ō-pə-'li-ti-kəl, ,sō-shē-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving a combination of social and political factors

so·cio·psy·cho·log·i·cal [-,sī-kə-'lä-ji-kəl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or involving a combination of social and psychological factors
  2. of or relating to social psychology

so·cio·re·li·gious [-ri-'li-jəs] -adj

  1. involving a combination of social and religious factors

so·cio·sex·u·al [-'sek-sh(ə-)wəl, -'sek-shəl] -adj

  1. of or relating to the interpersonal aspects of sexuality

sock ['säk] -n, adj

  1. a low shoe or slipper
  2. a knitted or woven covering for the foot usu. worn under shoes and extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee
  3. a shoe worn by actors in Greek and Roman comedy
  4. comic drama
  5. to hit, strike, or apply forcefully
    • sock a home run
    • an area sock ed by a blizzard
  6. to deliver a blow : hit
  7. a vigorous or violent blow
  8. punch

sock away -vt

  1. to put away (money) as savings or investment

sock·dol·a·ger [säk-'dä-li-jər] -n

  1. something that settles a matter : a decisive blow or answer : finisher
  2. something outstanding or exceptional

sock·et ['sä-kət] -n

  1. an opening or hollow that forms a holder for something
    • an electric bulb socket
    • the eye socket

socket -vt

  1. to provide with or support in or by a socket

socket wrench -n

  1. a wrench usu. in the form of a bar and removable socket made to fit a bolt or nut

sock·eye salmon ['säk-,ī-] -n

  1. a commercially important Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus nerka) that is greenish blue above and silvery below when sexually immature and turns red with a greenish head when ascending rivers to spawn which it does chiefly from the Columbia northward called also red salmon sockeye

sock in -vt

  1. to close to takeoffs or landings by aircraft
    • an airport socked in by fog
  2. to restrict from flying

socko ['sä-(,)kō] -adj

  1. strikingly impressive, effective, or successful : outstanding
    • a socko performance

sock puppet -n

  1. a hand puppet made with a sock
  2. a false online identity used for deceptive purposes

so·cle ['sō-kəl, 'sä-] -n

  1. a projecting usu. molded member at the foot of a wall or pier or beneath the base of a column, pedestal, or superstructure

So·crat·ic [sə-'kra-tik, sō-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to Socrates, his followers, or his philosophical method of systematic doubt and questioning of another to elicit a clear expression of a truth supposed to be knowable by all rational beings

Socratic -n

  1. a follower of Socrates

Socratic irony -n

  1. irony

sod ['säd] -n

  1. turf
  2. the grass- and forb-covered surface of the ground
  3. one's native land
  4. to cover with sod or turfs
  5. bugger
    • if I ever find the sod I'll kill him -- John Le Carre
  6. damn

so·da ['sō-də] -n

  1. sodium carbonate
  2. sodium bicarbonate
  3. sodium often used in combination
    • soda -feldspar
    • nitrate of soda
  4. soda water
  5. soda pop
  6. a sweet drink consisting of soda water, flavoring, and often ice cream
  7. the faro card that shows faceup in the dealing box before play begins

soda ash -n

  1. commercial anhydrous sodium carbonate

soda biscuit -n

  1. a biscuit leavened with baking soda and sour milk or buttermilk
  2. soda cracker

soda bread -n

  1. a quick bread made esp. with buttermilk and leavened with baking soda

soda cracker -n

  1. a cracker leavened with bicarbonate of soda and cream of tartar

soda fountain -n

  1. an apparatus with delivery tube and faucets for drawing soda water
  2. the equipment and counter for the preparation and serving of sodas, sundaes, and ice cream

soda jerk [-,jərk] -n

  1. a person who dispenses carbonated drinks and ice cream at a soda fountain called also soda jerker

soda lime -n

  1. a mixture of sodium hydroxide and slaked lime used esp. to absorb moisture and gases

so·da·list ['sō-də-list, sō-'da-list] -n

  1. a member of a sodality

so·da·lite ['sō-də-,līt] -n

  1. a transparent to translucent mineral that consists of a silicate of sodium and aluminum with some chlorine, has a vitreous or greasy luster, and is found in various igneous rocks

so·dal·i·ty [sō-'da-lə-tē] -n

  1. brotherhood, community
  2. an organized society or fellowship
  3. a devotional or charitable association of Roman Catholic laity

soda pop -n

  1. a beverage consisting of soda water, flavoring, and a sweet syrup

soda water -n

  1. a weak solution of sodium bicarbonate with some acid added to cause effervescence
  2. a beverage consisting of water highly charged with carbon dioxide
  3. soda pop

sod·bust·er ['säd-,bəs-tər] -n

  1. one (as a farmer or a plow) that breaks the sod

sod·den ['sä-dᵊn] -adj, adv, n

  1. dull or expressionless esp. from continued indulgence in alcoholic beverages
    • sodden features
  2. torpid, sluggish
    • sodden minds
  3. heavy with or as if with moisture or water
    • the sodden ground
  4. heavy or doughy because of imperfect cooking
    • sodden biscuits

sodden ['säd-niŋ, 'sä-dᵊn-iŋ] -vb

  1. to make sodden
  2. to become soaked or saturated

so·dic ['sō-dik] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or containing sodium

so·di·um ['sō-dē-əm] -n

  1. a silver-white soft waxy ductile element of the alkali metal group that occurs abundantly in nature in combined form and is very active chemically

sodium azide -n

  1. a poisonous crystalline salt NaN 3used esp. to make lead azide

sodium benzoate -n

  1. a crystalline or granular salt C 7H 5O 2Na used chiefly as a food preservative

sodium bicarbonate -n

  1. a white crystalline weakly alkaline salt NaHCO 3used esp. in baking powders and fire extinguishers and in medicine as an antacid called also baking soda bicarbonate of soda

sodium bo·ro·hy·dride [-,bȯr-ə-'hī-,drīd] -n

  1. a crystalline compound NaBH 4used in various industrial applications and as a reducing agent in organic chemistry

sodium carbonate -n

  1. : a sodium salt of carbonic acid used esp. in making soaps and chemicals, in water softening, in cleaning and bleaching, and in photography: as
  2. a hygroscopic crystalline anhydrous strongly alkaline salt Na 2CO 3
  3. the transparent crystalline hydrate Na 2CO 310H 2O found in nature as natron

sodium chlorate -n

  1. a colorless crystalline salt NaClO 3used esp. as an oxidizing agent and weed killer

sodium chloride -n

  1. an ionic crystalline chemical compound consisting of equal numbers of sodium and chlorine atoms : salt

sodium citrate -n

  1. a crystalline salt Na 3C 6H 5O 7used chiefly as a buffering agent, as an emulsifier, and in medicine as an expectorant, chelator, alkalinizing agent, and blood anticoagulant

sodium cyanide -n

  1. a white deliquescent poisonous salt NaCN used esp. in electroplating, in fumigating, and in treating steel

sodium fluoride -n

  1. a poisonous crystalline salt NaF that is used in trace amounts in the fluoridation of drinking water and toothpastes, in metallurgy, as a flux, and as a pesticide

sodium fluo·ro·ac·e·tate [-,flu̇r-ō-'a-sə-,tāt, -,flȯr-] -n

  1. a poisonous powdery compound C 2H 2FNaO 2

sodium hydroxide -n

  1. a white brittle solid NaOH that is a strong caustic base used esp. in making soap, rayon, and paper

sodium hypochlorite -n

  1. an unstable salt NaOCl produced usu. in aqueous solution and used as a bleaching and disinfecting agent

sodium lau·ryl sulfate [-'lȯr-əl-, -'lär-] -n

  1. the crystalline sodium salt C 12H 25NaO 4S of sulfated lauryl alcohol
  2. a mixture of sulfates of sodium consisting principally of this salt and used as a detergent, wetting agent, and emulsifying agent (as in toothpastes, ointments, and shampoos)

sodium meta·sil·i·cate [-,me-tə-'si-lə-,kāt, -'si-li-kət] -n

  1. a toxic corrosive crystalline salt Na 2SiO 3used esp. as a detergent or as a substitute for phosphates in detergent formulations

sodium nitrate -n

  1. a deliquescent crystalline salt NaNO 3used as a fertilizer and an oxidizing agent and in curing meat

sodium nitrite -n

  1. a salt NaNO 2used esp. in dye manufacture and as a meat preservative

sodium pump -n

  1. a molecular mechanism by which sodium ions are transferred across a cell membrane by active transport
  2. one that is controlled by a specialized plasma membrane protein by which a high concentration of potassium ions and a low concentration of sodium ions are maintained within a cell
  3. the specialized plasma membrane protein that controls the sodium pump mechanism

sodium salicylate -n

  1. a crystalline salt NaC 7H 5O 3that has a sweetish saline taste and is used chiefly as an analgesic, antipyretic, and antirheumatic

sodium sulfate -n

  1. a bitter salt Na 2SO 4used esp. in detergents, in the manufacture of wood pulp and rayon, in dyeing and finishing textiles, and in its hydrated form as a cathartic

sodium thiosulfate -n

  1. a hygroscopic crystalline salt Na 2S 2O 3used esp. as a photographic fixing agent and a reducing or bleaching agent called also fixer hypo

sodium tri·poly·phos·phate [-,trī-,pä-li-'fäs-,fāt] -n

  1. a crystalline salt Na 5P 3O 10that is used as a food additive and as a component in some detergents and is suspected of contributing to water pollution

sodiumvapor lamp -n

  1. an electric lamp that contains sodium vapor and electrodes between which a luminous discharge takes place and that is used esp. for lighting highways

sod off -vi

  1. scram usu. used as a command

Sod·om ['sä-dəm] -n

  1. a place notorious for vice or corruption

sod·om·ist ['sä-də-mist] -n

  1. sodomite

sod·om·ite [-,mīt] -n

  1. one who practices sodomy

sod·om·ize [-,mīz] -vt

  1. to perform sodomy on

sod·omy ['sä-də-mē] -n, adj

  1. anal or oral copulation with a member of the same or opposite sex
  2. copulation with an animal

so·ev·er [sō-'e-vər] -adv

  1. to any possible or known extent used after an adjective preceded by how or a superlative preceded by the
    • how fair soever she may be
    • the most selfish soever in this world
  2. of any or every kind that may be specified used after a noun modified esp. by any, no, or what
    • gives no information soever

so·fa ['sō-fə] -n

  1. a long upholstered seat usu. with arms and a back and often convertible into a bed

sofa bed -n

  1. a sofa that can be made to serve as a bed by lowering its hinged upholstered back to horizontal position or by pulling out a concealed mattress

so·far ['sō-,fär] -n

  1. a system for locating an underwater explosion at sea by triangulation

so far as -conj

  1. insofar as

sof·fit ['sä-fət] -n

  1. the underside of a part or member of a building (as of an overhang or staircase)
  2. the intrados of an arch

soft ['sȯft] -adj, adv, n

  1. pleasing or agreeable to the senses : bringing ease, comfort, or quiet
    • the soft influences of home
  2. having a bland or mellow rather than a sharp or acid taste
  3. not bright or glaring : subdued
  4. having or producing little contrast or a relatively short range of tones
    • a soft photographic print
  5. quiet in pitch or volume
  6. having a liquid or gentle appearance
  7. smooth or delicate in texture, grain, or fiber
    • soft cashmere
    • soft fur
  8. balmy, mild, or clement in weather or temperature
  9. moving or falling with slight force or impact : not violent
    • soft breezes
  10. demanding little work or effort : easy
    • a soft job
  11. sounding as in aceand gemrespectively used of c and g or their sound
  12. voiced
  13. constituting a vowel before which there is a y sound or a y-like modification of a consonant or constituting a consonant in whose articulation there is a y-like modification or which is followed by a y sound (as in Russian)
  14. moving in a leisurely manner
  15. rising gradually
    • a soft slope
  16. having curved or rounded outline : not harsh or jagged
    • soft hills against the horizon
  17. : marked by a gentleness, kindness, or tenderness: as
  18. not harsh or onerous in character
    • a policy of soft competition
  19. based on negotiation, conciliation, or flexibility rather than on force, threats, or intransigence
    • took a soft line during the crisis
  20. tending to take a soft line usu. used with on
    • soft on dictators
    • soft on law and order
  21. tending to ingratiate or disarm : engaging, kind
    • a soft answer turns away wrath -- Prov 15:1(RSV)
  22. marked by mildness : unassuming, low-key
  23. emotionally suggestible or responsive : impressionable
  24. unduly susceptible to influence : compliant
  25. lacking firmness or strength of character : feeble, unmanly
  26. amorously attracted or emotionally involved used with on
    • has been soft on her for years
  27. lacking robust strength, stamina, or endurance esp. because of living in ease or luxury
    • grown soft and indolent
  28. weak or deficient mentally
    • soft in the head
  29. yielding to physical pressure
  30. permitting someone or something to sink in used of wet ground
  31. of a consistency that may be shaped or molded
  32. capable of being spread
  33. easily magnetized and demagnetized
  34. lacking relatively or comparatively in hardness
    • soft iron
  35. deficient in or free from substances (as calcium and magnesium salts) that prevent lathering of soap
    • soft water
  36. having relatively low energy
    • soft X-rays
  37. relatively less serious or significant
  38. occurring at such a speed and under such circumstances as to avoid destructive impact
    • soft landing of a spacecraft on the moon
  39. not protected against enemy attack
    • a soft aboveground launching site
    • soft targets
  40. biodegradable
    • a soft detergent
    • soft pesticides
  41. considered less detrimental than a hard narcotic
  42. easily polarized used of acids and bases
  43. not readily convertible
  44. not secured by collateral
  45. being low due to sluggish market conditions
    • soft prices
  46. sluggish, slow
    • a soft market
  47. not firmly committed
    • soft unreliable political support
  48. soft-core
    • soft porn
  49. being or based on interpretive or speculative data
    • soft evidence
  50. utilizing or based on soft data
    • soft science
  51. being or using renewable sources of energy (as solar radiation, wind, or tides)
    • soft technologies
  52. contributed (as by a corporation) to a political party rather than directly to a particular candidate
  53. in a soft or gentle manner : softly
  54. a soft object, material, or part
    • the soft of the thumb

soft·back ['sȯf(t)-,bak] -adj, n

  1. softcover

soft·ball [-,bȯl] -n

  1. a sport similiar to baseball played on a small diamond with a ball that is larger than a baseball and that is pitched underhand
  2. the ball used in this game
  3. a question requiring only an easy or simple response

softboiled [-'bȯi(-ə)ld] -adj

  1. boiled to a soft consistency
  2. sentimental

soft·bound [-,bau̇nd] -adj

  1. softcover

soft chancre -n

  1. chancroid

soft coal -n

  1. bituminous coal

softcoated wheaten terrier -n

  1. any of a breed of compact medium-sized terriers developed in Ireland and having a soft abundant light fawn coat

softcore ['sȯf(t)-'kȯr] -adj

  1. containing descriptions or scenes of sex acts that are less explicit than hard-core material

soft·cov·er [-,kə-vər] -adj, n

  1. bound in flexible covers : not bound in hard covers
  2. paperback
    • softcover books

soft drink -n

  1. a usu. carbonated nonalcoholic beverage
  2. soda pop

soft·en ['sȯ-fən] -vb, n

  1. to make soft or softer
  2. to weaken the military resistance or the morale of esp. by harassment (as preliminary bombardment) often used with up
  3. to impair the strength or resistance of often used with up
    • soften up a sales prospect
  4. to become soft or softer
    • her face soften ed

softfo·cus ['sȯf(t)-'fō-kəs] -adj

  1. having unsharp outlines
  2. producing an image having unsharp outlines

soft goods -n pl

  1. goods that are not durable used esp. of textile products

soft hail -n

  1. graupel

soft·head ['sȯft-,hed] -n

  1. a silly or feebleminded person

soft·head·ed [-,he-dəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. having or indicative of a weak, unrealistic, or uncritical mind
    • a softheaded belief

soft·heart·ed [-,här-təd] -adj, adv, n

  1. emotionally responsive : sympathetic

softland [-'land] -vb, n

  1. to cause to make a soft landing on a celestial body (as the moon)
  2. to make a soft landing

softline [-'līn] -adj, n

  1. advocating or involving a conciliatory or flexible course of action

soft palate -n

  1. the fold at the back of the hard palate that partially separates the mouth from the pharynx

softpaste porcelain -n

  1. a translucent ceramic ware fired at a low temperature that was produced in Europe during the 16th through 18th centuries in imitation of hard-paste porcelain
  2. an article of soft-paste porcelain

softped·al ['sȯf(t)-'pe-dᵊl] -vt

  1. play down, de-emphasize
    • softpedal the issue
  2. to use the soft pedal in playing

soft pedal -n

  1. a foot pedal on a piano that reduces the volume of sound
  2. something that muffles, deadens, or reduces effect

soft rock -n

  1. rock music that is less driving and gentler sounding than hard rock

soft rot -n

  1. a mushy, watery, or slimy decay of plants or their parts caused by bacteria or fungi

soft·scape ['sȯft-,skāp] -n

  1. vegetation (as shrubs and flowers) that is incorporated into a landscape

soft sell -n

  1. the use of suggestion or gentle persuasion in selling rather than aggressive pressure

softserve ['sȯf(t)-,sərv] -n

  1. smooth semisolid ice cream made in and dispensed from a freezer in which it is aerated and continuously churned

soft·shell ['sȯf(t)-,shel] -n

  1. any of a family (Trionychidae) of freshwater carnivorous turtles that have sharp claws and mandibles and a flat round shell covered with soft leathery skin instead of with horny plates called also soft-shelled turtle

softshell ['sȯf(t)-,shel] -adj

  1. having a soft or fragile shell esp. as a result of recent shedding
    • softshell crabs

softshell clam -n

  1. an elongated clam ( Mya arenaria) of the east coast of No. America that has a thin friable shell and long siphon and is eaten esp. when steamed called also soft-shelled clam steamer

softshoe ['sȯf(t)-'shü] -adj

  1. of or relating to tap dancing done in soft-soled shoes without metal taps

softsoap ['sȯf(t)-'sōp] -vt, n

  1. to soothe or persuade with flattery or blarney

soft soap -n

  1. a semifluid soap made esp. from potassium hydroxide
  2. flattery

softspo·ken [-'spō-kən] -adj

  1. having a mild or gentle voice
  2. suave

soft spot -n

  1. a sentimental weakness
    • has a soft spot for him
  2. a vulnerable point
    • a soft spot in the defense system

soft touch -n

  1. a person who is easily imposed on or taken advantage of

soft·ware ['sȯft-,wer] -n

  1. : something used or associated with and usu. contrasted with hardware: as
  2. the entire set of programs, procedures, and related documentation associated with a system and esp. a computer system
  3. computer programs
  4. materials for use with audiovisual equipment

soft wheat -n

  1. a wheat with soft kernels high in starch but usu. low in gluten

soft·wood ['sȯft-,wu̇d] -n

  1. the wood of a coniferous tree (as a fir or pine) whether hard or soft as distinguished from that of an angiospermous tree
  2. a tree that yields softwood

softwood -adj

  1. having or made of softwood

softwood·ed ['sȯft-,wu̇-dəd] -adj

  1. having soft wood that is easy to work or finish
  2. softwood

softy ['sȯf-tē] -n

  1. a weak or foolish person
  2. a softhearted or sentimental person

Sog·di·an ['säg-dē-ən] -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of Sogdiana
  2. an Iranian language of the Sogdians

sog·gy ['sä-gē, 'sȯ-] -adj, adv, n

  1. : saturated or heavy with water or moisture: as
  2. waterlogged, soaked
    • a soggy lawn
  3. heavy or doughy because of imperfect cooking
    • soggy bread
  4. heavily dull : spiritless
    • soggy prose

soidi·sant [,swä-dē-'zäⁿ] -adj

  1. self-proclaimed, so-called
    • threw the soidisant epic novel aside in disgust

soi·gne [swän-'yā] -adj

  1. well-groomed, sleek
  2. elegantly maintained or designed
    • a soigne restaurant
    • a soigne black dress

soil ['sȯi(-ə)l] -vb

  1. to stain or defile morally : corrupt
  2. to make unclean esp. superficially : dirty
  3. to blacken or taint (as a person's reputation) by word or deed
  4. to become soiled or dirty
  5. soilage, stain
    • protect a dress from soil
  6. moral defilement : corruption
  7. : something that spoils or pollutes: as
  8. refuse
  9. sewage
  10. dung, excrement
  11. firm land : earth
  12. the upper layer of earth that may be dug or plowed and in which plants grow
  13. the superficial unconsolidated and usu. weathered part of the mantle of a planet and esp. of the earth
  14. country, land
    • our native soil
  15. the agricultural life or calling
  16. a medium in which something takes hold and develops
  17. to feed (livestock) in the barn or an enclosure with fresh grass or green food
  18. to purge (livestock) by feeding on green food

soil·age ['sȯi-lij] -n

  1. the act of soiling : the condition of being soiled

soilage -n

  1. green crops for feeding confined animals

soil·borne ['sȯi(-ə)l-,bȯrn] -adj

  1. transmitted by or in soil

soil·less ['sȯi(-ə)l-ləs] -adj

  1. having, containing, or utilizing no soil
    • soilless agriculture
    • soilless media for starting seeds

soil pipe -n

  1. a pipe for carrying off wastes from toilets

soil science -n

  1. a science dealing with soils called also pedology

soil series -n

  1. a group of soils with similar profiles developed from similar parent materials under comparable climatic and vegetational conditions

soil·ure ['sȯi(-ə)l-yər] -n

  1. the act of soiling : the condition of being soiled
  2. stain, smudge

soi·ree [swä-'rā] -n

  1. a party or reception held in the evening

soi·xanteneuf [,swä-,säⁿt-'nœf] -n

  1. sixty-nine

so·journ ['sō-,jərn, sō-'] -n

  1. a temporary stay
    • a sojourn in the country

sojourn -vi, n

  1. to stay as a temporary resident : stop

so·ju ['sō-,jü] -n

  1. Korean vodka distilled usu. from rice or sweet potato

soke ['sōk] -n

  1. the right in Anglo-Saxon and early English law to hold court and administer justice with the franchise to receive certain fees or fines arising from it : jurisdiction over a territory or over people
  2. the district included in a soke jurisdiction or franchise

sol ['sōl] -n

  1. the fifth tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  2. an old French coin equal to 12 deniers
  3. a corresponding unit of value
  4. the basic monetary unit of Peru before 1985 and since 1990
  5. a fluid colloidal system
  6. one in which the medium is a liquid
  7. soluble

Sol ['säl] -n

  1. the Roman god of the sun
  2. sun

sola ['sō-ləm] -n

(variant of solum)

  1. the altered layer of soil above the parent material that includes the A and B horizons

so·lace ['sä-ləs also 'sō-] -vt, n

  1. to give solace to : console
  2. to make cheerful
  3. amuse
  4. allay, soothe
    • solace grief

solace -n

  1. alleviation of grief or anxiety
  2. a source of relief or consolation

so·la·na·ceous [,sō-lə-'nā-shəs] -adj

  1. of or relating to the nightshade family of plants

so·la·nine ['sō-lə-,nēn, -nən] -n

  1. a bitter poisonous crystalline alkaloid C 45H 73NO 15found in the parts (as tubers and fruits) of several plants (as potatoes and tomatoes) of the nightshade family

so·la·num [sə-'lā-nəm, -'lä-, -'la-] -n

  1. nightshade

so·lar ['sō-lər, -,lär] -adj

  1. of, derived from, relating to, or caused by the sun
  2. measured by the earth's course in relation to the sun
    • a solar year
  3. relating to or reckoned by solar time
  4. produced or operated by the action of the sun's light or heat
    • solar energy
  5. utilizing the sun's rays esp. to produce heat or electricity
    • a solar house
  6. of or relating to such utilization
    • solar design

solar battery -n

  1. an array of solar cells

solar cell -n

  1. a photovoltaic cell used as a power source

solar collector -n

  1. any of various devices for the absorption of solar radiation for the heating of water or buildings or the production of electricity

solar constant -n

  1. the quantity of radiant solar energy received at the outer layer of the earth's atmosphere that has a mean value of 1370 watts per square meter

solar day -n

  1. the interval between transits of the apparent or mean sun across the meridian at any place

solar eclipse -n

  1. an eclipse of the sun by the moon

solar flare -n

  1. a sudden temporary outburst of energy from a small area of the sun's surface called also flare

so·lar·i·um [sō-'ler-ē-əm, sə-] -n

  1. a glass-enclosed porch or room
  2. a room (as in a hospital) used esp. for sunbathing or therapeutic exposure to light

so·lar·i·za·tion [,sō-lə-rə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. a reversal of gradation in a photographic image obtained by intense or continued exposure
  2. an act or process of solarizing

so·lar·ize ['sō-lə-,rīz] -vt

  1. to affect by the action of the sun's rays
  2. to expose to sunlight
  3. to subject (photographic materials) to solarization

solar mass -n

  1. the mass of the sun used as a unit for the expression of the masses of other celestial objects and equal to about 2 10 30kilograms

solar panel -n

  1. a battery of solar cells (as in a spacecraft)

so·lar plexus ['sō-lər-] -n

  1. a nerve plexus in the abdomen that is situated behind the stomach and in front of the aorta and the crura of the diaphragm and contains several ganglia distributing nerve fibers to the viscera
  2. the pit of the stomach

solar pond -n

  1. a pool of salt water heated by the sun and used either as a direct source of heat or to provide power for an electric generator

solar sail -n

  1. a propulsive device for a spacecraft that consists of a flat material (as aluminized plastic) designed to receive thrust from solar radiation pressure

solar system -n

  1. the sun together with the group of celestial bodies that are held by its attraction and revolve around it
  2. a similar system centered on another star

solar wind -n

  1. plasma continuously ejected from the sun's surface into and through interplanetary space

sol·ation [sä-'lā-shən, sȯ-] -n

  1. the process of changing to a sol

so·la·ti·um [sō-'lā-shē-əm] -n

  1. a compensation (as money) given as solace for suffering, loss, or injured feelings

sold ['sel] -vb, adj

(variant of sell)

  1. to deliver or give up in violation of duty, trust, or loyalty and esp. for personal gain : betray often used with out
    • sell out their country
  2. to give up (property) to another for something of value (as money)
  3. to offer for sale
  4. to give up in return for something else esp. foolishly or dishonorably
    • sold his birthright for a mess of pottage
  5. to exact a price for
    • sold their lives dearly
  6. to deliver into slavery for money
  7. to give into the power of another
    • sold his soul to the devil
  8. to deliver the personal services of for money
  9. to dispose of or manage for profit instead of in accordance with conscience, justice, or duty
    • sold their votes
  10. to develop a belief in the truth, value, or desirability of : gain acceptance for
    • trying to sell a program to the Congress
  11. to persuade or influence to a course of action or to the acceptance of something
    • sell children on reading
  12. to impose on : cheat
  13. to cause or promote the sale of
    • using television advertising to sell cereal
  14. to make or attempt to make sales to
  15. to influence or induce to make a purchase
  16. to achieve a sale of
    • sold a million copies
  17. to dispose of something by sale
    • thinks now is a good time to sell
  18. to achieve a sale
  19. to achieve satisfactory sales
    • hoped that the new line would sell
  20. to have a specified price
  21. a deliberate deception : hoax
  22. the act or an instance of selling
  23. something to be sold or caused to be accepted
    • the new mystery novel was an easy sell
  24. someone to whom something is sold
    • the new purchasing agent was a tough sell
  25. saddle

sol·dan ['säl-dən, 'sōl-] -n

  1. sultan
  2. the sultan of Egypt

sol·der ['sä-dər, 'sȯ-, Brit also 'säl-dər, 'sōl-] -n

  1. a metal or metallic alloy used when melted to join metallic surfaces
  2. an alloy of lead and tin so used
  3. something that unites

solder [-d(ə-)riŋ] -vb, n

  1. to unite or make whole by solder
  2. to bring into or restore to firm union
    • a friendship solder ed by common interests
  3. to use solder
  4. to become united or repaired by or as if by solder

soldering iron -n

  1. a pointed or wedge-shaped device that is usu. electrically heated and that is used for soldering

sol·dier ['sōl-jər] -n, adj or adv

  1. one engaged in military service and esp. in the army
  2. an enlisted man or woman
  3. a skilled warrior
  4. a militant leader, follower, or worker
  5. one of a caste of wingless sterile termites usu. differing from workers in larger size and head and long jaws
  6. one of a type of worker ants distinguished by exceptionally large head and jaws
  7. one who shirks work

soldier ['sōl-jə-riŋ, 'sōlj-riŋ] -vi

  1. to serve as a soldier
  2. to behave in a soldierly manner
  3. to push doggedly forward usu. used with on
    • soldier ed on to the end
  4. to make a pretense of working while really loafing

soldiering -n

  1. the life, service, or practice of one who soldiers

soldier of fortune

  1. one who follows a military career wherever there is promise of profit, adventure, or pleasure

soldiers' home -n

  1. an institution maintained (as by the federal or a state government) for the care and relief of military veterans

soldier's medal -n

  1. a U.S. military decoration awarded for heroism not involving combat

sol·diery ['sōl-jə-rē, 'sōlj-rē] -n

  1. a body of soldiers
  2. soldiers, military
  3. the profession or technique of soldiering

sol·do ['sȯl-(,)dō] -n

  1. an old Italian coin worth five centesimi

soldout ['sōld-'au̇t] -adj

  1. having all available tickets or accommodations sold completely and esp. in advance
  2. of or relating to a sold-out event
    • a soldout crowd

sole ['sōl] -n

  1. any of various flatfishes (family Soleidae) having a small mouth, small or rudimentary fins, and small eyes placed close together and including important food fishes (as the European Dover sole)
  2. any of various mostly market flatfishes (as lemon sole) of other families (as Pleuronectidae)
  3. the undersurface of a foot
  4. the part of an item of footwear on which the sole rests and upon which the wearer treads
  5. the usu. flat or flattened bottom or lower part of something or the base on which something rests
  6. to furnish with a sole
    • sole a shoe
  7. to place the sole of (a golf club) on the ground
  8. not married used chiefly of women
  9. having no companion : solitary
  10. having no sharer
  11. being the only one
    • she was her mother's sole support
  12. functioning independently and without assistance or interference
    • let conscience be the sole judge
  13. belonging exclusively or otherwise limited to one usu. specified individual, unit, or group

so·le·cism ['sä-lə-,si-zəm, 'sō-] -n, adj

  1. an ungrammatical combination of words in a sentence
  2. a minor blunder in speech
  3. something deviating from the proper, normal, or accepted order
  4. a breach of etiquette or decorum

sole·ly ['sō(l)-lē] -adv

  1. without another : singly
    • went solely on her way
  2. to the exclusion of all else
    • done solely for money

sol·emn ['sä-ləm] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by the invocation of a religious sanction
    • a solemn oath
  2. marked by the observance of established form or ceremony
  3. celebrated with full liturgical ceremony
  4. awe-inspiring : sublime
    • solemn beauty
  5. marked by grave sedateness and earnest sobriety
    • a solemn gathering
  6. somber, gloomy
    • a solemn gray building

so·lem·ni·fy [sə-'lem-nə-,fī] -vt

  1. to make solemn

so·lem·ni·ty [sə-'lem-nə-tē] -n

  1. formal or ceremonious observance of an occasion or event
  2. a solemn event or occasion
  3. a solemn condition or quality
    • the solemnity of his words

sol·em·nize ['sä-ləm-,nīz] -vb, n

  1. to observe or honor with solemnity
  2. to perform with pomp or ceremony
  3. to celebrate (a marriage) with religious rites
  4. to make solemn : dignify
  5. to speak or act with solemnity

solemn mass -n

  1. a mass marked by the use of incense and by the presence of a deacon and a subdeacon in attendance on the celebrant

solemn vow -n

  1. an absolute and irrevocable public vow taken by a religious in the Roman Catholic Church under which ownership of property by the individual is prohibited and marriage is invalid under canon law

so·le·noid ['sō-lə-,nȯid, 'sä-] -n, adj

  1. a coil of wire usu. in cylindrical form that when carrying a current acts like a magnet so that a movable core is drawn into the coil when a current flows and that is used esp. as a switch or control for a mechanical device (as a valve)

sole·plate ['sōl-,plāt] -n

  1. the lower plate of a studded partition on which the bases of the studs butt
  2. the undersurface of an iron

soles ['sōl] -n

(variant of sol)

  1. the fifth tone of the diatonic scale in solmization
  2. an old French coin equal to 12 deniers
  3. a corresponding unit of value
  4. the basic monetary unit of Peru before 1985 and since 1990
  5. a fluid colloidal system
  6. one in which the medium is a liquid
  7. soluble

so·le·us ['sō-lē-əs] -n

  1. a broad flat muscle of the calf of the leg lying immediately beneath the gastrocnemius

solfa [,sōl-'fä, 'sōl-,] -vi

  1. to sing the sol-fa syllables
  2. to sing (as a melody) to sol-fa syllables
  3. sol-fa syllables
  4. solmization
  5. an exercise thus sung
  6. tonic sol-fa

solfa syllables -n pl

  1. the syllables do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti,used in singing the tones of the scale

sol·fa·ta·ra [,sōl-fə-'tär-ə] -n

  1. a volcanic area or vent that yields only hot vapors and sulfurous gases

sol·fege [säl-'fezh] -n

  1. the application of the sol-fa syllables to a musical scale or to a melody
  2. a singing exercise esp. using sol-fa syllables
  3. practice in sight-reading vocal music using the sol-fa syllables

sol·feg·gio [säl-'fe-j(ē-,)ō] -n

  1. solfege

sol·gel ['säl-,jel, 'sȯl-] -adj

  1. involving alternation between sol and gel states

soli ['sō-(,)lō] -n

(variant of solo)

  1. a musical composition for a single voice or instrument with or without accompaniment
  2. the featured part of a concerto or similar work
  3. a performance in which the performer has no partner or associate
  4. something undertaken or done alone
    • a student pilot's first solo
  5. any of several card games in which a player elects to play without a partner against the other players

so·lic·it [sə-'li-sət] -vb

  1. to make petition to : entreat
  2. to approach with a request or plea
    • solicit ed Congress for funding
  3. to urge (as one's cause) strongly
  4. to entice or lure esp. into evil
  5. to proposition (someone) esp. as or in the character of a prostitute
  6. to try to obtain by usu. urgent requests or pleas
    • solicit ed donations
  7. to make solicitation : importune
  8. to offer to have sexual relations with someone for money

so·lic·i·tant [sə-'li-sə-tənt] -n

  1. one who solicits

so·lic·i·ta·tion [sə-,li-sə-'tā-shən] -n

  1. the practice or act or an instance of soliciting
  2. entreaty, importunity
  3. a moving or drawing force : incitement, allurement

so·lic·i·tor [sə-'li-sə-tər, -'lis-tər] -n

  1. one that solicits
  2. an agent that solicits (as contributions to charity)
  3. a British lawyer who advises clients, represents them in the lower courts, and prepares cases for barristers to try in higher courts
  4. the chief law officer of a municipality, county, or government department

solicitor general -n

  1. a law officer appointed primarily to assist an attorney general

so·lic·i·tous [sə-'li-sə-təs, -'lis-təs] -adj, adv, n

  1. manifesting or expressing solicitude
    • a solicitous inquiry about his health
  2. full of concern or fears : apprehensive
    • solicitous about the future
  3. meticulously careful
    • solicitous in matters of dress
  4. full of desire : eager

so·lic·i·tude [sə-'li-sə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the state of being concerned and anxious
  2. attentive care and protectiveness
  3. an attitude of earnest concern or attention
    • expressed solicitude for his health
  4. a cause of care or concern usu. used in pl.

sol·id ['sä-ləd] -adj, adv, n

  1. being without an internal cavity
    • a solid ball of rubber
  2. printed with minimum space between lines
  3. joined without a hyphen
    • a solid compound
  4. not interrupted by a break or opening
    • a solid wall
  5. having, involving, or dealing with three dimensions or with solids
    • a solid configuration
  6. of uniformly close and coherent texture : not loose or spongy : compact
  7. possessing or characterized by the properties of a solid : neither gaseous nor liquid
    • solid waste
  8. : of good substantial quality or kind
    • solid comfort
    : as
  9. sound
    • solid reasons
  10. made firmly and well
    • solid furniture
  11. reliable
    • a solid performer
  12. having no break or interruption
    • waited three solid hours
  13. unanimous
    • had the solid support of the party
  14. intimately friendly or associated
    • solid with the boss
  15. prudent
  16. well established financially
  17. serious in purpose or character
  18. : of one substance or character: as
  19. entirely of one metal or containing the minimum of alloy necessary to impart hardness
    • solid gold
  20. of a single color

solid -n

  1. a geometrical figure or element (as a cube or sphere) having three dimensions
  2. a substance that does not flow perceptibly under moderate stress, has a definite capacity for resisting forces (as compression or tension) which tend to deform it, and under ordinary conditions retains a definite size and shape
  3. the part of a solution or suspension that when freed from solvent or suspending medium has the qualities of a solid usu. used in pl.
    • milk solid s
  4. : something that is solid: as
  5. a solid color
  6. a compound word whose members are joined together without a hyphen
  7. in a solid manner
  8. unanimously

sol·i·da·go [,sä-lə-'dā-(,)gō, -'dä-] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Solidago) of chiefly No. American composite herbs including the typical goldenrods

solid angle -n

  1. the three-dimensional angular spread at the vertex of a cone measured by the area intercepted by the cone on a unit sphere whose center is the vertex of the cone

sol·i·da·rism ['sä-lə-də-,ri-zəm] -n, adj

  1. solidarity

sol·i·dar·i·ty [,sä-lə-'da-rə-tē] -n

  1. unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards

solid geometry -n

  1. a branch of geometry that deals with figures of three-dimensional space

so·lid·i·fy [sə-'li-də-,fī] -vb, n

  1. to make solid, compact, or hard
  2. to make secure, substantial, or firmly fixed
    • factors that solidify public opinion
  3. to become solid, compact, or hard

so·lid·i·ty [sə-'li-də-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being solid
  2. something solid

sol·idlook·ing [,sä-ləd-'lu̇k-iŋ] -adj

  1. giving an impression of solid worth or substance
    • solidlooking citizens

solid of revolution

  1. a mathematical solid conceived as formed by the revolution of a plane figure about an axis in its plane

solidstate -adj

  1. relating to the properties, structure, or reactivity of solid material
  2. relating to the arrangement or behavior of ions, molecules, nucleons, electrons, and holes in the crystals of a substance (as a semiconductor) or to the effect of crystal imperfections on the properties of a solid substance
    • solidstate physics
  3. utilizing the electric, magnetic, or optical properties of solid materials
    • solidstate circuitry
  4. using semiconductor devices rather than electron tubes
    • a solidstate radio

sol·i·dus ['sä-lə-dəs] -n

  1. an ancient Roman gold coin introduced by Constantine and used to the fall of the Byzantine Empire
  2. slash

so·li·fluc·tion ['sō-lə-,flək-shən] -n

  1. the slow creeping of saturated fragmental material (as soil) down a slope that usu. occurs in regions of perennial frost

so·lil·o·quise [-,kwīz] -vi, n

(variant of soliloquize)

  1. to utter a soliloquy : talk to oneself

so·lil·o·quist [sə-'li-lə-kwist] -n

  1. one who soliloquizes

so·lil·o·quize [-,kwīz] -vi, n

  1. to utter a soliloquy : talk to oneself

so·lil·o·quy [sə-'li-lə-kwē] -n

  1. the act of talking to oneself
  2. a dramatic monologue that represents a series of unspoken reflections

so·lip·sism ['sō-ləp-,si-zəm, 'sä-] -n, adj, adv

  1. a theory holding that the self can know nothing but its own modifications and that the self is the only existent thing
  2. extreme egocentrism

sol·i·taire ['sä-lə-,ter] -n

  1. a single gem (as a diamond) set alone
  2. any of various card games that can be played by one person

sol·i·tary ['sä-lə-,ter-ē] -adj, adv, n

  1. being, living, or going alone or without companions
  2. saddened by isolation
  3. unfrequented, desolate
    • a solitary seashore
  4. taken, passed, or performed without companions
    • a solitary ramble
  5. keeping a prisoner apart from others
    • solitary confinement
  6. being at once single and isolated
    • a solitary example
  7. occurring singly and not as part of a group or cluster
    • flowers terminal and solitary
  8. not gregarious, colonial, social, or compound
    • solitary bees

solitary -n

  1. one who lives or seeks to live a solitary life : recluse
  2. solitary confinement in prison
    • put him in solitary

sol·i·ton ['sä-lə-,tän] -n

  1. a solitary wave (as in a gaseous plasma) that propagates with little loss of energy and retains its shape and speed after colliding with another such wave

sol·i·tude ['sä-lə-,tüd, -,tyüd] -n

  1. the quality or state of being alone or remote from society : seclusion
  2. a lonely place (as a desert)

sol·i·tu·di·nar·i·an [,sä-lə-,tü-də-'ner-ē-ən, -,tyü-] -n

  1. recluse

sol·ler·et [,sä-lə-'ret] -n

  1. a flexible steel shoe forming part of a medieval suit of armor

sol·mi·za·tion [,säl-mə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. the act, practice, or system of using syllables to denote the tones of a musical scale

soln -abbr

  1. solution

so·lo ['sō-(,)lō] -n

  1. a musical composition for a single voice or instrument with or without accompaniment
  2. the featured part of a concerto or similar work
  3. a performance in which the performer has no partner or associate
  4. something undertaken or done alone
    • a student pilot's first solo
  5. any of several card games in which a player elects to play without a partner against the other players

solo -adv

  1. without a companion : alone
    • fly solo
  2. accommodating one person
    • a solo canoe
  3. of, relating to, or being a solo
    • a solo performance
    • a solo flight
  4. hit with no runners on base
    • a solo home run
  5. : to perform by oneself: as
  6. to perform a musical solo
  7. to fly an airplane without one's instructor on board
  8. to fly (as an airplane) alone
  9. to climb (as a mountain) alone

so·lo·ist ['sō-lə-wist, -(,)lō-ist] -n

  1. one who performs a solo

Sol·o·mon ['sä-lə-mən] -n

  1. a son of David and 10th century b.c.king of Israel proverbial for his wisdom

Sol·o·mon·ic [,sä-lə-'mä-nik] -adj

  1. marked by notable wisdom, reasonableness, or discretion esp. under trying circumstances

Solomon's seal -n

  1. any of a genus ( Polygonatum) of perennial herbs of the lily family with tubular flowers and gnarled rhizomes
  2. an emblem consisting of two interlaced triangles forming a 6-pointed star and formerly used as an amulet esp. against fever

so·lon ['sō-lən, -,län] -n

  1. a wise and skillful lawgiver
  2. a member of a legislative body

so long [sō-'lȯŋ, sə-] -interj

  1. used to express farewell

so long as -conj

  1. during and up to the end of the time that : while
    • so long as you are here, I'm fine
  2. provided that
    • you may go, so long as you return by dinnertime

sol·stice ['säl-stəs, 'sōl-, 'sȯl-] -n

  1. either of the two points on the ecliptic at which its distance from the celestial equator is greatest and which is reached by the sun each year about June 22 and December 22
  2. the time of the sun's passing a solstice which occurs about June 22 to begin summer in the northern hemisphere and about December 22 to begin winter in the northern hemisphere

sol·sti·tial [säl-'sti-shəl, sōl-, sȯl-] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a solstice and esp. the summer solstice
  2. happening or appearing at or associated with a solstice

sol·u·bi·lise ['säl-yə-bə-,līz] -vt, n

(variant of solubilize)

  1. to make soluble or more soluble

sol·u·bil·i·ty [,säl-yə-'bi-lə-tē] -n

  1. the quality or state of being soluble
  2. the amount of a substance that will dissolve in a given amount of another substance

sol·u·bi·lize ['säl-yə-bə-,līz] -vt, n

  1. to make soluble or more soluble

sol·u·ble ['säl-yə-bəl] -adj

  1. susceptible of being dissolved in or as if in a liquid and esp. water
  2. subject to being solved or explained
    • soluble questions

so·lum ['sō-ləm] -n

  1. the altered layer of soil above the parent material that includes the A and B horizons

so·lus ['sō-ləs] -adv or adj

  1. alone often used in stage directions

sol·ute ['säl-,yüt] -n

  1. a dissolved substance

so·lu·tion [sə-'lü-shən] -n

  1. an action or process of solving a problem
  2. an answer to a problem : explanation
  3. a set of values of the variables that satisfies an equation
  4. an act or the process by which a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance is homogeneously mixed with a liquid or sometimes a gas or solid
  5. a homogeneous mixture formed by this process
  6. a single-phase liquid system
  7. the condition of being dissolved
  8. a bringing or coming to an end or into a state of discontinuity

solution set -n

  1. the set of values that satisfy an equation
  2. truth set

So·lu·tre·an [sə-'lü-trē-ən] -adj

  1. of or relating to an Upper Paleolithic culture characterized by leaf-shaped finely flaked stone implements

solv·able ['säl-və-bəl, 'sȯl-] -adj, n

  1. susceptible of solution or of being solved, resolved, or explained
    • a solvable problem

sol·vate ['säl-,vāt, 'sȯl-] -n

  1. an aggregate that consists of a solute ion or molecule with one or more solvent molecules
  2. a substance (as a hydrate) containing such ions

solvate [säl-'vā-shən, sȯl-] -vt, n

  1. to make part of a solvate

Sol·vay process ['säl-,vā-] -n

  1. a process for making soda from common salt by passing carbon dioxide into ammoniacal brine resulting in precipitation of sodium bicarbonate which is then calcined to carbonate

solve ['sälv, 'sȯlv] -vb, n

  1. to find a solution, explanation, or answer for
    • solve a problem
    • solved the crime
  2. to pay (as a debt) in full
  3. to solve something
    • substitute and solve for x

sol·ven·cy ['säl-vən(t)-sē, 'sȯl-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being solvent

sol·vent [-vənt] -adj, adv

  1. able to pay all legal debts
    • a solvent company
  2. that dissolves or can dissolve
    • solvent action of water

solvent [-ləs] -n, adj

  1. a usu. liquid substance capable of dissolving or dispersing one or more other substances
  2. something that provides a solution
  3. something that eliminates or attenuates something esp. unwanted

sol·vol·y·sis [säl-'vä-lə-səs, sȯl-] -n, adj

  1. a chemical reaction (as hydrolysis) of a solvent and solute that results in the formation of new compounds
  2. the sum of Uzbekistan

Som -abbr

  1. Somersetshire

so·ma ['sō-mə] -n

  1. an intoxicating juice from a plant of disputed identity that was used in ancient India as an offering to the gods and as a drink of immortality by worshippers in Vedic ritual and worshipped in personified form as a Vedic god

soma ['sō-mə-tə] -n

  1. the body of an organism
  2. all of an organism except the germ cells
  3. cell body

So·ma·li [sō-'mä-lē, sə-] -n, adj

  1. a member of a people of Somaliland
  2. the Cushitic language of the Somali

so·man ['sō-mən] -n

  1. an extremely toxic chemical warfare agent C 7H 16FO 2P similar to sarin in action

so many -adj

  1. constituting an unspecified number
    • can only read so many chapters each night
  2. constituting a group or pack
    • behaved like so many animals

somat- -comb form

  1. body
    • somato logy

so·mat·ic [sō-'ma-tik, sə-] -adj, adv

  1. of, relating to, or affecting the body esp. as distinguished from the germplasm or the psyche
  2. of or relating to the wall of the body : parietal

somatic cell -n

  1. one of the cells of the body that compose the tissues, organs, and parts of that individual other than the germ cells

so·ma·ti·za·tion [,sō-mə-tə-'zā-shən] -n

  1. conversion of a mental state (as depression or anxiety) into physical symptoms
  2. the existence of physical bodily complaints in the absence of a known medical condition

so·ma·tol·o·gy [,sō-mə-'tä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. a branch of anthropology primarily concerned with the comparative study of human evolution, variation, and classification esp. through measurement and observation

so·mato·me·din [,sō-mə-tō-'mē-dᵊn, sō-,ma-tə-] -n

  1. any of several endogenous peptides produced esp. in the liver that are dependent on and prob. mediate growth hormone activity (as in sulfate uptake by epiphyseal cartilage)

so·mato·pleure [sō-'ma-tə-,plu̇r] -n

  1. a complex fold of tissue in the embryo of a craniate vertebrate consisting of an outer layer of mesoderm together with the ectoderm that sheathes it and giving rise to the amnion and chorion

so·mato·sen·so·ry [sō-,ma-tə-'sen(t)s-rē, -'sen(t)-sə-rē] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or being sensory activity having its origin elsewhere than in the special sense organs (as eyes and ears) and conveying information about the state of the body proper and its immediate environment
  2. relating to or being either of two regions in the parietal lobe that receive and process somatosensory stimuli

so·mato·stat·in [sō-,ma-tə-'sta-tᵊn] -n

  1. a polypeptide neurohormone that is found esp. in the hypothalamus and inhibits the secretion of several other hormones (as growth hormone, insulin, and gastrin)

so·mato·tro·pic hormone [-'trō-pik-] -n

  1. growth hormone

so·mato·tro·pin [-'trō-pən] -n

  1. growth hormone

so·mato·type [sō-'ma-tə-,tīp] -n

  1. body type : physique

som·ber ['säm-bər] -adj, adv, n

  1. so shaded as to be dark and gloomy
  2. of a serious mien : grave
    • somber dignitaries
  3. of a dismal or depressing character : melancholy
  4. conveying gloomy suggestions or ideas
  5. of a dull or heavy cast or shade : dark colored

som·bre·ro [səm-'brer-(,)ō, säm-] -n

  1. an often high-crowned hat of felt or straw with a very wide brim worn esp. in the Southwest and Mexico

som·brous ['säm-brəs] -adj

  1. somber

some ['səm, for 2 without stress] -adj

  1. being an unknown, undetermined, or unspecified unit or thing
    • some person knocked
  2. being one, a part, or an unspecified number of something (as a class or group) named or implied
    • some gems are hard
  3. being of an unspecified amount or number
    • give me some water
    • have some apples
  4. remarkable, striking
    • that was some party
  5. being at least one used to indicate that a logical proposition is asserted only of a subclass or certain members of the class denoted by the term which it modifies
  6. one indeterminate quantity, portion, or number as distinguished from the rest
  7. an indefinite additional amount
    • ran a mile and then some
  8. about
    • some 80 houses
    • twenty- some people
  9. in some degree : somewhat
    • felt some better
  10. to some degree or extent : a little
    • the cut bled some
    • I need to work on it some more
  11. used as a mild intensive
    • that's going some

some·body ['səm-(,)bə-dē, -,bä-] -pron

  1. one or some person of unspecified or indefinite identity
    • somebody will come in

somebody -n

  1. a person of position or importance

some·day ['səm-,dā] -adv

  1. at some future time

some·deal ['səm-,dēl] -adv

  1. somewhat

some·how ['səm-,hau̇] -adv

  1. in one way or another not known or designated : by some means
    • we'll manage somehow

some·one [-(,)wən] -pron

  1. some person : somebody

some·place [-,plās] -adv

  1. somewhere

som·er·sault ['sə-mər-,sȯlt] -n, vi

  1. a movement (as in gymnastics) in which a person turns forward or backward in a complete revolution along the ground or in the air bringing the feet over the head
  2. a falling or tumbling head over heels

som·er·set [-,set] -n or vi

  1. somersault

some·thing ['səm(p)-thiŋ, esp in rapid speech or for 2 'səm-pᵊm] -pron

  1. some indeterminate or unspecified thing
  2. some indeterminate amount more than a specified number used in combination
    • twenty -something years old
    • a group of fifty -something s
  3. a person or thing of consequence
  4. one having more or less the character, qualities, or nature of something different
    • is something of a bore

something -adv

  1. in some degree : somewhat
  2. used as an intensive giving adverbial force to an adjective
    • swears something awful

some·time ['səm-,tīm] -adv

  1. in the past : formerly
  2. once in a while : occasionally
  3. at some time in the future
    • I'll do it sometime
  4. at some not specified or definitely known point of time
    • sometime last night

sometime -adj

  1. having been formerly : former, late
  2. being so occasionally or in only some respects
    • a sometime father

some·times ['səm-,tīmz also (,)səm-'] -adv

  1. at times : now and then : occasionally

sometimes -adj

  1. sometime

some·way ['səm-,wā] -adv

  1. somehow

some·what [-,(h)wät, -,(h)wət, (,)səm-'] -pron

  1. something

somewhat -adv

  1. in some degree or measure : slightly

some·when ['səm-,(h)wen] -adv

  1. sometime

some·where [-,(h)wer, -(,)(h)wər] -adv

  1. in, at, from, or to a place unknown or unspecified
    • mentions it somewhere
  2. to a place symbolizing positive accomplishment or progress
    • now we're getting somewhere
  3. in the vicinity of : approximately
    • somewhere about nine o'clock

somewhere -n

  1. an undetermined or unnamed place

some·wheres [-,(h)werz, -(,)(h)wərz] -adv

  1. somewhere

some·whith·er [-,(h)wi-thər] -adv

  1. to some place : somewhere

so·mite ['sō-,mīt] -n

  1. one of the longitudinal series of segments into which the body of many animals is divided : metamere

som·me·lier [,sə-məl-'yā] -n

  1. a waiter in a restaurant who has charge of wines and their service : a wine steward

somnambul- -comb form

  1. somnambulism : somnambulist
    • somnambul ant

som·nam·bu·lant [säm-'nam-byə-lənt] -adj

  1. walking or having the habit of walking while asleep
  2. resembling or having the characteristics of a sleepwalker : sluggish

som·nam·bu·late [-,lāt] -vi, n

  1. to walk when asleep

som·nam·bu·lism [säm-'nam-byə-,li-zəm] -n, adj, adv

  1. an abnormal condition of sleep in which motor acts (as walking) are performed
  2. actions characteristic of somnambulism

som·ni·fa·cient [,säm-nə-'fā-shənt] -adj, n

  1. hypnotic

som·nif·er·ous [säm-'ni-f(ə-)rəs] -adj

  1. soporific

som·no·lence ['säm-nə-lən(t)s] -n

  1. the quality or state of being drowsy : sleepiness

som·no·lent [-lənt] -adj, adv

  1. of a kind likely to induce sleep
    • a somnolent sermon
  2. inclined to or heavy with sleep : drowsy
  3. sleepy
    • somnolent rivers

so much -adv

  1. by the amount indicated or suggested
    • if they lose their way, so much the better for us
  2. something (as an amount or price) unspecified or undetermined
    • charge so much a mile
  3. all that can be or is to be said or done
    • so much for the history of the case
  4. used as an intensive
    • the house burned like so much paper
    • sounded like so much nonsense

so much as -adv

  1. even
    • scowls if I so much as look at him

son ['sən] -n

  1. a human male offspring esp. of human beings
  2. a male adopted child
  3. a human male descendant
  4. the second person of the Trinity
  5. a person closely associated with or deriving from a formative agent (as a nation, school, or race)

son- -comb form

  1. sound
    • son ic
    • sono gram

so·nant ['sō-nənt] -adj, n

  1. voiced
  2. syllabic

so·nar ['sō-,när] -n

  1. a method or device for detecting and locating objects esp. underwater by means of sound waves sent out to be reflected by the objects
  2. a device for detecting the presence of a vessel (as a submarine) by the sound it emits in water

so·na·ta [sə-'nä-tə] -n

  1. an instrumental musical composition typically of three or four movements in contrasting forms and keys

sonata form -n

  1. a musical form that consists basically of an exposition, a development, and a recapitulation and that is used esp. for the first movement of a sonata

son·a·ti·na [,sä-nə-'tē-nə] -n

  1. a short usu. simplified sonata

sonde ['sänd] -n

  1. any of various devices for testing physical conditions (as at high altitudes, below the earth's surface, or inside the body)

sone ['sōn] -n

  1. a subjective unit of loudness for an average listener equal to the loudness of a 1000-hertz sound that has an intensity 40 decibels above the listener's own threshold of hearing

son et lu·miere [,sōⁿ-(n)ā-lüm-'yer] -n

  1. an outdoor spectacle at a historic site consisting of recorded narration with light and sound effects

song ['sȯŋ] -n, adj

  1. the act or art of singing
  2. poetical composition
  3. a short musical composition of words and music
  4. a collection of such compositions
  5. a distinctive or characteristic sound or series of sounds (as of a bird, insect, or whale)
  6. a melody for a lyric poem or ballad
  7. a poem easily set to music
  8. a habitual or characteristic manner
  9. a violent, abusive, or noisy reaction
    • put up quite a song
  10. a small amount
    • sold for a song

song and dance -n

  1. a theatrical performance (as a vaudeville performance) combining singing and dancing
  2. a long and often familiar statement or explanation that is usu. not true or pertinent

song·bird ['sȯŋ-,bərd] -n

  1. a bird that utters a succession of musical tones
  2. an oscine bird
  3. a female singer

song·book [-'bu̇k] -n

  1. a collection of songs
  2. a book containing vocal music (as hymns)

song cycle -n

  1. a group of related songs designed to form a musical entity

song·fest ['sȯŋ-'fest] -n

  1. an informal session of group singing of popular or folk songs

song·ful [-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. given to or suggestive of singing : melodious

song·less [-ləs] -adj, adv

  1. lacking in, incapable of, or not given to song

Song of Sol·o·mon [-'sä-lə-mən]

  1. a collection of love poems forming a book in the Protestant canon of the Old Testament

Song of Songs

  1. a collection of love poems forming a book in the canonical Jewish Scriptures and in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament and corresponding to the Song of Solomon in the Protestant canon of the Old Testament

song·smith ['sȯŋ-,smith] -n

  1. a composer of songs

song sparrow -n

  1. a No. American sparrow ( Melospiza melodiaof the family Emberizidae) that is brownish above and white below with brownish streaks on the breast and that has a melodious song

song·ster ['sȯŋ(k)-stər] -n

  1. one that sings with skill
  2. songbook

song·stress ['sȯŋ(k)-strəs] -n

  1. a female singer

song thrush -n

  1. an Old World thrush ( Turdus philomelosof the family Turdidae) that is largely brown above with brown-spotted white underparts called also mavis throstle

song·writ·er ['sȯŋ-,rī-tər] -n

  1. a person who composes words or music or both esp. for popular songs

son·ic ['sä-nik] -adj, adv

  1. utilizing, produced by, or relating to sound waves
    • sonic altimeter
  2. of or involving sound
    • sonic pollution
  3. having a frequency within the audibility range of the human ear used of waves and vibrations
  4. of, relating to, or being the speed of sound in air or about 761 miles per hour (1224 kilometers per hour) at sea level at 59F (15C)

son·i·cate ['sä-nə-,kāt] -vt, n

  1. to disrupt (as bacterial cells) by exposure to high-frequency sound waves

sonic barrier -n

  1. sound barrier

sonic boom -n

  1. a sound resembling an explosion produced when a shock wave formed at the nose of an aircraft traveling at supersonic speed reaches the ground called also sonic bang

soninlaw ['sən-ən-,lȯ] -n

  1. the husband of one's daughter

son·less ['sən-ləs] -adj

  1. not possessing or never having had a son

son·ly [-lē] -adj

  1. filial

son·net ['sä-nət] -n

  1. a fixed verse form of Italian origin consisting of 14 lines that are typically 5-foot iambics rhyming according to a prescribed scheme
  2. a poem in this pattern

son·ne·teer [,sä-nə-'tir] -n

  1. a composer of sonnets
  2. a minor or insignificant poet

sonnet sequence -n

  1. a series of sonnets often having a unifying theme

son·ny ['sə-nē] -n

  1. a young boy usu. used in address

so·no·buoy ['sä-nə-,bȯi, -,bü-ē] -n

  1. a buoy equipped for detecting underwater sounds and transmitting them by radio

son of a bitch ['sən-ə-və-,bich also 'səm-,bich; as an interj ,sən-ə-və-'bich] -n

  1. bastard sometimes used interjectionally to express surprise or disappointment

son of a gun ['sən-ə-və-,gən; as an interj ,sən-ə-və-'gən] -n

  1. usu. used as a mild or euphemistic alternative to son of a bitch sometimes used interjectionally to express surprise or disappointment

son of God

  1. a superhuman or divine being (as an angel)
  2. messiah
  3. a person established in the love of God by divine promise

son of man

  1. a human being
  2. God's messiah destined to preside over the final judgment of humankind

sono·gram ['sä-nə-,gram] -n

  1. an image produced by ultrasound

so·nog·ra·phy [sō-'nä-grə-fē] -n, adj

  1. ultrasound

so·nor·i·ty [sə-'nȯr-ə-tē, -'när-] -n

  1. the quality or state of being sonorous : resonance
  2. a sonorous tone or speech

so·no·rous [sə-'nȯr-əs, 'sä-nə-rəs] -adj, adv, n

  1. producing sound (as when struck)
  2. full or loud in sound
    • a sonorous voice
  3. imposing or impressive in effect or style
  4. having a high or an indicated degree of sonority
    • sonorous sounds such as a and

son·ship ['sən-,ship] -n

  1. the relationship of son to father

sonsy ['sän(t)-sē] -adj

  1. buxom, comely

soon ['sün, esp NewEng 'su̇n] -adv

  1. at once : immediately
  2. without undue time lapse : before long
    • soon after sunrise
  3. in a prompt manner : speedily
    • as soon as possible
    • the soon er the better
    • no soon er said than done
  4. before the usual time
  5. in agreement with one's choice or preference : willingly
    • I'd just as soon walk as drive

soon·er ['sü-nər] -n

  1. a person settling on land in the early West before its official opening to settlement in order to gain the prior claim allowed by law to the first settler after official opening
  2. a native or resident of Oklahoma used as a nickname

sooner or later -adv

  1. at some uncertain future time : sometime

soot ['su̇t, 'sət, 'süt] -n

  1. a black substance formed by combustion or separated from fuel during combustion, rising in fine particles, and adhering to the sides of the chimney or pipe conveying the smoke
  2. the fine powder consisting chiefly of carbon that colors smoke
  3. to coat or cover with soot

sooth ['süth] -adj

  1. true
  2. soft, sweet
  3. truth, reality
  4. blandishment

soothe ['süth] -vb, n

  1. to please by or as if by attention or concern : placate
  2. relieve, alleviate
    • soothe a cough
  3. to bring comfort, solace, or reassurance to
    • music soothe s the soul
  4. to bring peace, composure, or quietude

sooth·fast ['süth-,fast] -adj

  1. true
  2. truthful

soothing -adj, adv, n

  1. tending to soothe
  2. having a sedative effect
    • soothing syrup

sooth·ly ['süth-lē] -adv

  1. in truth : truly

sooth·say·er [-,sā-ər, -,ser] -n

  1. a person who predicts the future by magical, intuitive, or more rational means : prognosticator

sooth·say·ing [-,sā-iŋ] -n, vi

  1. the act of foretelling events
  2. prediction, prophecy

sooty ['su̇-tē, 'sə-, 'sü-] -adj, adv, n

  1. of, relating to, or producing soot
  2. soiled with soot
  3. of the color of soot

sooty mold -n

  1. a dark growth of fungus mycelium growing in insect honeydew on plants
  2. any of various ascomycetous fungi (order Dothideales) producing such growth

sooty tern -n

  1. a widely distributed tern ( Sterna fuscata) of tropical oceans that is blackish above and white below called also wideawake

sop ['säp] -n

  1. a piece of food dipped or steeped in a liquid
  2. a conciliatory or propitiatory bribe, gift, or gesture
  3. to steep or dip in or as if in liquid
  4. to wet thoroughly : soak
  5. mop

SOP -abbr

  1. standard operating procedure; standing operating procedure

so·pai·pil·la [,sō-pī-'pē-yə, -'pēl-yə] -n

  1. a usu. puffy piece of deep-fried dough often sweetened with honey

soph -abbr

  1. sophomore

soph·ism ['sä-,fi-zəm] -n

  1. an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid
  2. such an argument used to deceive
  3. sophistry

soph·ist ['sä-fist] -n

  1. philosopher
  2. any of a class of ancient Greek teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and the art of successful living prominent about the middle of the fifth century b.c.for their adroit subtle and allegedly often specious reasoning
  3. a captious or fallacious reasoner

so·phis·tic [sä-'fis-tik, sə-] -adj, adv

  1. of or relating to sophists, sophistry, or the ancient Sophists
    • sophistic rhetoric
    • sophistic subtleties
  2. plausible but fallacious
    • sophistic reasoning

so·phis·ti·cate [sə-'fis-tə-,kāt] -vt

  1. to alter deceptively
  2. adulterate
  3. to deprive of genuineness, naturalness, or simplicity
  4. to deprive of naivete and make worldly-wise : disillusion
  5. to make complicated or complex
  6. a sophisticated person

so·phis·ti·cat·ed [-tə-,kā-təd] -adj, adv

  1. : deprived of native or original simplicity: as
  2. highly complicated or developed : complex
    • sophisticated electronic devices
  3. having a refined knowledge of the ways of the world cultivated esp. through wide experience
    • a sophisticated lady
  4. : devoid of grossness: as
  5. finely experienced and aware
    • a sophisticated columnist
  6. intellectually appealing
    • a sophisticated novel

so·phis·ti·ca·tion [sə-,fis-tə-'kā-shən] -n

  1. the use of sophistry : sophistic reasoning
  2. sophism, quibble
  3. the process or result of becoming cultured, knowledgeable, or disillusioned
  4. cultivation, urbanity
  5. the process or result of becoming more complex, developed, or subtle

soph·ist·ry ['sä-fə-strē] -n

  1. subtly deceptive reasoning or argumentation
  2. sophism

soph·o·more ['säf-,mȯr also 'sȯf- or 'sä-fə- or 'sȯ-fə-] -n

  1. a student in the second year at college or a 4-year secondary school

sophomore -adj

  1. being or associated with the second in a series
    • their sophomore album

soph·o·mor·ic [,säf-'mȯr-ik, -'mär- also ,sȯf- or ,sä-fə- or ,sȯ-fə-] -adj

  1. conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature
    • a sophomoric argument
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a sophomore
    • sophomoric humor

So·pho·ni·as [,sä-fə-'nī-əs, ,sō-] -n

  1. zephaniah

so·phy ['sō-fē] -n

  1. a sovereign of Persia

sop·o·rif·ic [-'ri-fik] -adj

  1. causing or tending to cause sleep
    • soporific drugs
  2. tending to dull awareness or alertness
  3. of, relating to, or marked by sleepiness or lethargy

soporific -n

  1. a soporific agent
  2. hypnotic

sopping -adj

  1. wet through : soaking

sop·py ['sä-pē] -adj, n

  1. sentimental, mawkish
  2. soaked through : saturated
  3. very wet

so·pra·ni·no [,sō-prə-'nē-(,)nō, ,sä-] -n

  1. a musical instrument (as a recorder or saxophone) higher in pitch than the soprano

so·pra·no [sə-'pra-(,)nō, -'prä-] -adj

  1. relating to or having the range or part of a soprano

soprano -n

  1. the highest singing voice of women or boys and formerly of castrati
  2. a person having this voice
  3. the highest voice part in a 4-part chorus
  4. a member of a family of instruments having the highest range

so·ra ['sȯr-ə] -n

  1. a small short-billed No. American rail ( Porzana carolina) common in marshes

sorb ['sȯrb] -vt, n, adj

  1. to take up and hold by either adsorption or absorption

Sorb ['sȯrb] -n, adj or n

  1. wend
  2. wendish

sor·bate ['sȯr-,bāt, 'sȯr-bət] -n

  1. a salt or ester of sorbic acid

sor·bent ['sȯr-bənt] -n

  1. a substance that sorbs

sor·bet [sȯr-'bā also 'sȯr-bət] -n

  1. a usu. fruit-flavored ice served as a dessert or between courses as a palate refresher

sor·bic acid ['sȯr-bik-] -n

  1. a crystalline acid C 6H 8O 2obtained from the unripe fruits of the mountain ash or synthesized and used esp. as a fungicide and food preservative

sor·bi·tol ['sȯr-bə-,tȯl, -,tōl] -n

  1. a faintly sweet alcohol C 6H 14O 6that occurs in some fruits, is made synthetically, and is used esp. as a humectant and softener and in making ascorbic acid

sor·cer·er ['sȯr-sə-rər, 'sȯrs-rər] -n

  1. a person who practices sorcery : wizard

sor·cer·ess [-rəs] -n

  1. a woman who is a sorcerer

sor·cer·ous [-rəs] -adj

  1. of or relating to sorcery : magical

sor·cery [-rē] -n

  1. the use of power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits esp. for divining : necromancy
  2. magic

sor·did ['sȯr-dəd] -adj, adv, n

  1. marked by baseness or grossness : vile
    • sordid motives
  2. dirty, filthy
  3. wretched, squalid
  4. meanly avaricious : covetous
  5. of a dull or muddy color

sor·di·no [sȯr-'dē-(,)nō] -n

  1. mute

sore ['sȯr] -adj, n

  1. causing pain or distress
    • a sore subject
  2. painfully sensitive : tender
    • sore muscles
  3. hurt or inflamed so as to be or seem painful
    • sore runny eyes
    • a dog limping on a sore leg
  4. attended by difficulties, hardship, or exertion
  5. angry, irked
    • a sore loser
  6. a localized sore spot on the body
  7. one (as an ulcer) with the tissues ruptured or abraded and usu. with infection
  8. a source of pain or vexation : affliction
  9. sorely

sore·head ['sȯr-,hed] -n, adj

  1. a person easily angered or disgruntled

sore·ly ['sȯr-lē] -adv

  1. in a sore manner : painfully
  2. very, extremely
    • sorely needed changes

sore throat -n

  1. pain in the throat due to inflammation of the fauces and pharynx

sor·ghum ['sȯr-gəm] -n

  1. any of an economically important genus ( Sorghum) of Old World tropical grasses similar to Indian corn in habit but with the spikelets in pairs on a hairy rachis
  2. any of various cultivars (as grain sorghum or sorgo) derived from a wild form ( S. bicolorsyn. S. vulgare)
  3. syrup from the juice of a sorgo that resembles cane syrup
  4. something cloyingly sentimental

sor·go ['sȯr-(,)gō] -n

  1. a sorghum cultivated primarily for the sweet juice in its stems from which sugar and syrup are made but also used for fodder and silage called also sweet sorghum

so·ri·tes [sə-'rī-(,)tēz] -n

  1. an argument consisting of propositions so arranged that the predicate of any one forms the subject of the next and the conclusion unites the subject of the first proposition with the predicate of the last

So·rop·ti·mist [sə-'räp-tə-mist, sȯ-] -n

  1. a member of a service club composed of professional women and businesswomen

so·ro·ral [sə-'rȯr-əl] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a sister : sisterly

so·ro·rate [sə-'rȯr-ət] -n

  1. the marriage of one man to two or more sisters usu. successively and after the first wife has been found to be barren or after her death

so·ror·i·ty [sə-'rȯr-ə-tē, -'rär-] -n

  1. a club of women
  2. a women's student organization formed chiefly for social purposes and having a name consisting of Greek letters

sorp·tion ['sȯrp-shən] -n, adj

  1. the process of sorbing : the state of being sorbed

sor·rel ['sȯr-əl, 'sär-] -n

  1. a sorrel-colored animal
  2. a light bright chestnut horse often with white mane and tail
  3. a brownish orange to light brown

sorrel -n

  1. : any of various plants or plant parts with sour juice: as
  2. any of various docks (as Rumex acetosaand R. acetosella)
  3. the leaves used as a potherb
  4. wood sorrel

sorrel tree -n

  1. sourwood

sor·row ['sär-(,)ō, 'sȯr-] -n

  1. deep distress, sadness, or regret esp. for the loss of someone or something loved
  2. resultant unhappy or unpleasant state
    • to their great sorrow they could not marry
  3. a cause of grief or sadness
  4. a display of grief or sadness

sorrow ['sär-ə-wər, 'sȯr-] -vi, n

  1. to feel or express sorrow

sor·row·ful [-ō-fəl, -ə-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. full of or marked by sorrow
    • a sorrowful good-bye
  2. expressive of or inducing sorrow
    • sorrowful eyes

sor·ry ['sär-ē, 'sȯr-] -adj, adv, n

  1. feeling sorrow, regret, or penitence
  2. mournful, sad
  3. inspiring sorrow, pity, scorn, or ridicule
  4. pitiful
    • their affairs were in a sorry state

sort ['sȯrt] -n

  1. a group set up on the basis of any characteristic in common : class, kind
  2. one approximating the character or qualities of another
    • a sort of latter-day Abe Lincoln
  3. person, individual
    • he's not a bad sort
  4. group, company
  5. method or manner of acting : way, manner
  6. character, nature
    • people of an evil sort
  7. a letter or character that is one element of a font
  8. a character or piece of type that is not part of a regular font
  9. an instance of sorting
    • a numeric sort of a data file
  10. to put in a certain place or rank according to kind, class, or nature
    • sort apples
    • sort mail
  11. to arrange according to characteristics : classify usu. used with out
    • sort out colors
  12. to put to rights : put in order
  13. to examine in order to clarify used with out
    • sort ing out his problems
  14. to free of confusion : clarify used with out
    • waited until things sort ed themselves out
  15. to join or associate with others esp. of the same kind
    • sort with thieves
  16. agree, harmonize
    • his benign view sort s badly with reality -- Henry Trewhitt
  17. search
    • sort through some old papers

sor·tie ['sȯr-tē, sȯr-'tē] -n, vi

  1. a sudden issuing of troops from a defensive position against the enemy
  2. one mission or attack by a single plane
  3. foray, raid
  4. excursion, expedition
    • diving sortie s

sor·ti·lege ['sȯr-tə-lij, -,lej] -n

  1. divination by lots
  2. sorcery

sor·ti·tion [sȯr-'ti-shən] -n

  1. the act or an instance of casting lots

sort of -adv

  1. to a moderate degree : somewhat

so·rus ['sȯr-əs] -n

  1. : a cluster of plant reproductive bodies: as
  2. a cluster of sporangia on the underside of a fertile fern frond
  3. a mass of spores bursting through the epidermis of the host plant of a parasitic fungus
  4. a cluster of gemmae on the thallus of a lichen

SOS [,es-(,)ō-'es] -n

  1. an internationally recognized signal of distress in radio code --- used esp. by ships calling for help
  2. a call or request for help or rescue

soso ['sō-'sō] -adv

  1. moderately well : tolerably
  2. neither very good nor very bad : middling
    • a soso performance

so·ste·nu·to [,sōs-tə-'nü-(,)tō, ,sȯs-] -adj or adv

  1. sustained to or beyond the note's full value used as a direction in music

sostenuto -n

  1. a movement or passage whose notes are markedly prolonged

sot ['sät] -n

  1. a habitual drunkard

so·te·ri·ol·o·gy [sō-,tir-ē-'ä-lə-jē] -n, adj

  1. theology dealing with salvation esp. as effected by Jesus Christ

so that -conj

  1. that

So·tho ['sō-(,)tō] -n

  1. any one of the Sotho languages and esp. Sesotho
  2. a group of closely related Bantu languages of Lesotho, Botswana, and northern So. Africa
  3. a member of a group of southern African peoples whose language is Sotho

so·tol ['sō-,tōl] -n

  1. any of several plants (genus Dasylirion) of the agave family of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that resemble a yucca

sot·tish ['sä-tish] -adj, adv, n

  1. resembling a sot : drunken
  2. doltish, stupid

sot·to vo·ce [,sä-tō-'vō-chē] -adv or adj

  1. under the breath : in an undertone
  2. in a private manner
  3. very softly used as a direction in music

sou ['sü] -n

  1. sol
  2. a 5-centime piece

sou·bise [sü-'bēz] -n

  1. a garnish or white sauce containing onions or onion puree

sou·brette [sü-'bret] -n

  1. a coquettish maid or frivolous young woman in comedies
  2. an actress who plays such a part
  3. a soprano who sings supporting roles in comic opera

soubriquet ['sō-bri-,kā, -,ket, ,sō-bri-'] -n

(variant of sobriquet)

  1. a descriptive name or epithet : nickname

sou·chong ['sü-,chȯŋ, -,shȯŋ] -n

  1. a tea made from the larger older leaves of the shoot

souf·fle [sü-'flā, 'sü-,] -n

  1. a dish that is made from a sauce, egg yolks, beaten egg whites, and a flavoring or puree (as of seafood, fruit, or vegetables) and baked until puffed up

souffle [-'flād, -,flād] -adj

  1. puffed up by or in cooking

sough ['sau̇, 'səf] -vi, n

  1. to make a moaning or sighing sound

sought ['sēk] -vb, n

(variant of seek)

  1. to resort to : go to
  2. to go in search of : look for
  3. to try to discover
  4. to ask for : request
    • seek s advice
  5. to try to acquire or gain : aim at
    • seek fame
  6. to make an attempt : try used with to and an infinitive
    • governments...seek to keep the bulk of their people contented -- D. M. Potter
  7. to make a search or inquiry
  8. to be sought
  9. to be lacking
    • in critical judgment...they were sadly to seek -- Times Lit. Supp.

souk ['sük] -n

  1. a marketplace in northern Africa or the Middle East
  2. a stall in such a marketplace

sou·kous ['sü-,küs] -n

  1. popular guitar-driven dance music created in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the influence of Cuban rumba

soul ['sōl] -n

  1. the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life
  2. the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe
  3. god
  4. a person's total self
  5. an active or essential part
  6. a moving spirit : leader
  7. the moral and emotional nature of human beings
  8. the quality that arouses emotion and sentiment
  9. spiritual or moral force : fervor
  10. person
    • not a soul in sight
  11. personification
    • she is the soul of integrity
  12. a strong positive feeling (as of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor) conveyed esp. by black American performers
  13. negritude
  14. soul music
  15. soul food
  16. soul brother
  17. of, relating to, or characteristic of black Americans or their culture
  18. designed for or controlled by blacks

soul brother -n

  1. a black male

souled ['sōld] -adj

  1. having a soul : possessing soul and feeling usu. used in combination
    • whole- souled repentance

soul food -n

  1. food (as chitterlings, ham hocks, and collard greens) traditionally eaten by southern black Americans

soul·ful ['sōl-fəl] -adj, adv, n

  1. full of or expressing feeling or emotion
    • soulful music

soul kiss -n

  1. french kiss

soul·less ['sōl-ləs] -adj, adv, n

  1. having no soul or no greatness or warmth of mind or feeling

soul mate -n

  1. a person who is perfectly suited to another in temperament
  2. a person who strongly resembles another in attitudes or beliefs
    • ideological soul mates

soul music -n

  1. music that originated in black American gospel singing, is closely related to rhythm and blues, and is characterized by intensity of feeling and earthiness

soul patch -n

  1. a small growth of beard under a man's lower lip

soulsearch·ing ['sōl-,sər-chiŋ] -n

  1. examination of one's conscience esp. with regard to motives and values

sound ['sau̇nd] -adj, adv, n

  1. free from injury or disease
  2. free from flaw, defect, or decay
  3. solid, firm
  4. stable
  5. free from error, fallacy, or misapprehension
    • sound reasoning
  6. exhibiting or based on thorough knowledge and experience
    • sound scholarship
  7. legally valid
    • a sound title
  8. logically valid and having true premises
  9. agreeing with accepted views : orthodox
  10. thorough
  11. deep and undisturbed
    • a sound sleep
  12. hard, severe
    • a sound whipping
  13. showing good judgment or sense
    • sound advice
  14. to the full extent : thoroughly
    • sound asleep
  15. a particular auditory impression : tone
  16. the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing
  17. mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing
  18. a speech sound
    • a peculiar r-sound
  19. value in terms of speech sounds
    • -cher of teacher and -ture of creature have the same sound
  20. rumor, fame
  21. meaningless noise
  22. meaning
  23. the impression conveyed : import
  24. hearing distance : earshot
    • within sound of your voice
  25. recorded auditory material
  26. a particular musical style characteristic of an individual, a group, or an area
    • the Nashville sound
  27. to cause to sound
    • sound a trumpet
  28. pronounce
  29. to put into words : voice
  30. to make known : proclaim
  31. to order, signal, or indicate by a sound
    • sound the alarm
  32. to examine by causing to emit sounds
    • sound the lungs
  33. to convey the impression of : sound like
    • that sound s a logical use of resources -- Economist
  34. to make a sound
  35. resound
  36. to give a summons by sound
    • the bugle sound s to battle
  37. to make or convey an impression esp. when heard
    • it sound s good to me
    • you sound just like your mother
  38. a long broad inlet of the ocean generally parallel to the coast
  39. a long passage of water connecting two larger bodies (as a sea with the ocean) or separating a mainland and an island
  40. the air bladder of a fish
  41. to measure the depth of : fathom
  42. to try to find out the views or intentions of : probe often used with out
  43. to explore or examine (a body cavity) with a sound
  44. to ascertain the depth of water esp. with a sounding line
  45. to look into or investigate the possibility
    • sent commissioners...to sound for peace -- Thomas Jefferson
  46. to dive down suddenly used of a fish or whale
  47. an elongated instrument for exploring or sounding body cavities

sound·alike ['sau̇n-də-,līk] -n, adj

  1. one that sounds like another

soundandlight show -n

  1. son et lumiere

sound barrier -n

  1. a sudden large increase in aerodynamic drag that occurs as the speed of an aircraft approaches the speed of sound

soundbite -adj

  1. containing or characterized by sound bites
    • soundbite politics

sound bite -n

  1. a brief recorded statement (as by a public figure) broadcast esp. on a television news program
  2. a brief catchy comment or saying

sound·board ['sau̇n(d)-,bȯrd] -n

  1. a thin resonant board (as the belly of a violin) so placed in an instrument as to reinforce its tones by sympathetic vibration
  2. sounding board
  3. sound card

sound bow -n

  1. the thick part of a bell against which the clapper strikes

sound box -n

  1. a hollow chamber in a musical instrument for increasing its sonority
  2. a device in an early phonograph for producing sound from a record by using the vibration of a needle to move a diaphragm

sound card -n

  1. a circuit board in a computer system designed to produce or reproduce sound

sound effects -n pl

  1. effects that are imitative of sounds called for in the script of a dramatic production (as a radio show) and that enhance the production's illusion of reality

sound·er ['sau̇n-dər] -n

  1. one that sounds
  2. a device for making soundings

sound hole -n

  1. an opening in the top surface of a stringed instrument (as a violin) to enhance vibration and resonance

sound·ing ['sau̇n-diŋ] -adj, adv

  1. resonant, sonorous
  2. pompous
  3. imposing

sounding -n

  1. measurement of depth esp. with a sounding line
  2. the depth so ascertained
  3. a place or part of a body of water where a hand sounding line will reach bottom
  4. measurement of atmospheric conditions at various heights
  5. a probe, test, or sampling of opinion or intention

sounding board -n

  1. a structure behind or over a pulpit, rostrum, or platform to give distinctness and sonority to sound
  2. a device or agency that helps propagate opinions or utterances
  3. a person or group on whom one tries out an idea or opinion as a means of evaluating it
  4. soundboard

sounding line -n

  1. a line or wire weighted at one end for sounding

sounding rocket -n

  1. a rocket used esp. to obtain information concerning atmospheric conditions at various altitudes

sound·less ['sau̇n(d)-ləs] -adj

  1. incapable of being sounded : unfathomable

soundless -adj, adv

  1. making no sound : silent

sound·man ['sau̇n(d)-,man] -n

  1. a person who controls the volume and tone of sound picked up by a microphone (as in a recording studio or on a motion-picture set) for recording

sound off -vi

  1. to play three chords before and after marching up and down a line of troops during a ceremonial parade or formal guard mount
  2. to count cadence while marching
  3. to speak up in a loud voice
  4. to voice one's opinions freely and vigorously

sound pressure -n

  1. the difference between the actual pressure at any point in the field of a sound wave at any instant and the average pressure at that point

sound·proof ['sau̇n(d)-,prüf] -adj

  1. impervious to sound

soundproof -vt

  1. to insulate so as to obstruct the passage of sound

sound·scape ['sau̇n(d)-,skāp] -n

  1. a melange of musical and sometimes nonmusical sounds

sound·stage ['sau̇n(d)-,stāj] -n

  1. the part of a motion-picture studio in which a production is filmed

sound track -n

  1. a track (as on a motion-picture film or television videotape) that carries the sound record
  2. the sound recorded on a sound track
  3. the music on a sound track

sound truck -n

  1. a truck equipped with a loudspeaker

sound wave -n

  1. sound
  2. longitudinal pressure waves in any material medium regardless of whether they constitute audible sound
    • earthquake waves and ultrasonic waves are sometimes called sound waves

soup ['süp] -n

  1. a liquid food esp. with a meat, fish, or vegetable stock as a base and often containing pieces of solid food
  2. something (as a heavy fog or nitroglycerine) having or suggesting the consistency or nutrient qualities of soup
  3. an unfortunate predicament
    • that stunt landed her in the soup

soup·on [süp-'sōⁿ, 'süp-,sän] -n

  1. a little bit : trace
    • a soupon of suspicion

soup du jour [,süp-də-'zhu̇r] -n

  1. a soup that is offered by a restaurant on a particular day

soupedup ['süpt-'əp] -adj

  1. enhanced or increased in appeal, power, performance, or intensity
  2. elaborate, embellished

soup kitchen -n

  1. an establishment dispensing minimum dietary essentials (as soup and bread) to the needy

soup·spoon ['süp-,spün] -n

  1. a spoon with a large or rounded bowl for eating soup

soup up -vt

  1. to increase the power or efficiency of
    • soup up an engine

soupy ['sü-pē] -adj

  1. having the consistency of soup
  2. densely foggy or cloudy
  3. overly sentimental

sour ['sau̇(-ə)r] -adj, adv, n

  1. causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids
    • sour pickles
  2. having the acid taste or smell of or as if of fermentation : turned
    • sour milk
  3. of or relating to fermentation
  4. smelling or tasting of decay : rancid, rotten
    • sour breath
  5. bad, wrong
    • a project gone sour
  6. hostile, disenchanted
    • went sour on Marxism
  7. unpleasant, distasteful
  8. cross, sullen
  9. not up to the usual, expected, or standard quality or pitch
  10. acid in reaction used esp. of soil
  11. containing malodorous sulfur compounds used esp. of petroleum products
  12. something sour
  13. the primary taste sensation produced by acid stimuli
  14. a cocktail consisting of a liquor (as whiskey), lemon or lime juice, sugar, and sometimes ice
  15. to become sour
  16. to make sour

sour ball -n

  1. a spherical hard candy having a tart flavor

source ['sȯrs] -n, adj

  1. a generative force : cause
  2. a point of origin or procurement : beginning
  3. one that initiates : author
  4. prototype, model
  5. one that supplies information
  6. the point of origin of a stream of water : fountainhead
  7. spring, fount
  8. a firsthand document or primary reference work
  9. an electrode in a field-effect transistor that supplies the charge carriers for current flow
  10. to specify the source of (as quoted material)
  11. to obtain from a source
    • metals sourced from abroad
  12. of, relating to, or being source code
    • a source file

source·book [-,bu̇k] -n

  1. a fundamental document or record (as of history, literature, art, or religion) on which subsequent writings, compositions, opinions, beliefs, or practices are based
  2. a collection of such documents

source code -n

  1. a computer program in its original programming language (as FORTRAN or C) before translation into object code usu. by a compiler

source language -n

  1. a language which is to be translated into another language

sour cherry -n

  1. a widely cultivated cherry ( Prunus cerasus) that has a round crown and bright red to almost black soft-fleshed acid fruits
  2. the fruit

sour cream -n

  1. a soured cream product produced by the action of lactobacilli

sour·dough ['sau̇(-ə)r-,dō, 1 is also -'dō] -n

  1. a leaven consisting of dough in which fermentation is active
  2. a veteran inhabitant and esp. an old-time prospector of Alaska or northwestern Canada

sour grapes -n pl

  1. disparagement of something that has proven unattainable
    • his criticisms are just sour grapes

sour grass -n

  1. sorrel

sour gum -n

  1. black gum

sour mash -n

  1. grain mash for brewing or distilling whose initial acidity has been adjusted to optimum condition for yeast fermentation by mash from a previous run

sour orange -n

  1. a citrus tree ( Citrus aurantium) that is used esp. as a stock in grafting citrus
  2. its bitter fruit

sour·puss ['sau̇(-ə)r-,pu̇s] -n

  1. grouch, killjoy

sour·sop ['sau̇(-ə)r-,säp] -n

  1. a small tropical American tree ( Annona muricata) of the custard-apple family that has spicy odoriferous leaves
  2. its large edible fruit that has fleshy spines and a slightly acid fibrous pulp

sour·wood [-,wu̇d] -n

  1. a small U.S. tree ( Oxydendrum arboreum) of the heath family with white flowers and sour-tasting leaves

sous ['sü] -adj

  1. being an assistant used chiefly in titles
    • a sous -chef

sou·sa·phone ['sü-zə-,fōn, -sə-] -n

  1. a large circular tuba that has a flared adjustable bell

souse ['sau̇s] -vb

  1. pickle
  2. to plunge in liquid : immerse
  3. drench, saturate
  4. to make drunk : inebriate
  5. to become immersed or drenched
  6. something pickled
  7. seasoned and chopped pork trimmings, fish, or shellfish
  8. an act of sousing : wetting
  9. a habitual drunkard
  10. a drinking spree : binge
  11. to swoop down : plunge
  12. to swoop down on

sou·tache [sü-'tash] -n

  1. a narrow braid with herringbone pattern used as trimming

sou·tane [sü-'tän, -'tan] -n

  1. cassock

sou·ter ['sü-tər] -n

  1. shoemaker

south ['sau̇th] -adv

  1. to, toward, or in the south
    • a house facing south
  2. into a state of decline or ruin
    • causes the sluggish economy to go south -- G. F. Will
  3. situated toward or at the south
    • the south entrance
  4. coming from the south
    • a south wind
  5. the direction of the south terrestrial pole : the direction to the right of one facing east
  6. the compass point directly opposite to north
  7. regions or countries lying to the south of a specified or implied point of orientation
  8. the southeastern part of the U.S.
  9. the right side of a church looking toward the altar from the nave
  10. the one of four positions at 90-degree intervals that lies to the south or at the bottom of a diagram
  11. a person (as a bridge player) occupying this position in the course of a specified activity
  12. the declarer in bridge
  13. the developing nations of the world : third world

South African -n, adj

  1. a native or inhabitant of the Republic of South Africa
  2. afrikaner

south·bound ['sau̇th-,bau̇nd] -adj

  1. traveling or heading south

south by east

  1. a compass point that is one point east of due south : S1115E

south by west

  1. a compass point that is one point west of due south : S1115W

South Dev·on [-'de-vən] -n

  1. any of a breed of large red cattle of English origin formerly bred for both milk and meat but now increasingly specialized for beef production

South·down ['sau̇th-,dau̇n] -n

  1. any of a breed of small medium-wooled hornless sheep of English origin

south·east [sau̇th-'ēst, naut sau̇-'ēst] -adv

  1. to, toward, or in the southeast

southeast -n

  1. the general direction between south and east
  2. the point midway between the south and east compass points
  3. regions or countries lying to the southeast of a specified or implied point of orientation
  4. coming from the southeast
    • a southeast wind
  5. situated toward or at the southeast
    • the southeast corner

southeast by east

  1. a compass point that is one point east of due southeast : S5615E

southeast by south

  1. a compass point that is one point south of due southeast : S3345E

south·east·er [sau̇th-'ē-stər, sau̇-'ē-] -n

  1. a strong southeast wind
  2. a storm with southeast winds

south·east·er·ly [-stər-lē] -adv or adj

  1. from the southeast
  2. toward the southeast

south·east·ern [-stərn] -adj

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated southeast
  2. lying toward or coming from the southeast

South·east·ern·er [-stə(r)-nər] -n

  1. a native or inhabitant of the Southeast
  2. a native or resident of the southeastern part of the U.S.

south·east·ward [sau̇th-'ēs-twərd, sau̇-'ēs-] -adv or adj, adv

  1. toward the southeast

southeastward -n

  1. southeast

south·er·ly ['sə-thər-lē] -adj or adv

  1. situated toward or belonging to the south
    • the southerly shore of the lake
  2. coming from the south
    • a southerly wind

southerly -n

  1. a wind from the south

south·ern ['sə-thərn] -adj, n

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated South
  2. lying toward the south
  3. coming from the south
    • a southern breeze

Southern -n

  1. the dialect of English spoken in most of the Chesapeake Bay area, the coastal plain and the greater part of the upland plateau in Virginia, No. Carolina, So. Carolina, and Georgia, and the Gulf states at least as far west as the valley of the Brazos in Texas and sometimes taken to include the south Midland area

Southern blot -n

  1. a blot consisting of a nitrocellulose or nylon sheet containing spots of DNA for identification by a suitable molecular probe

southern corn rootworm -n

  1. spotted cucumber beetle

Southern Cross -n

  1. four bright stars in the southern hemisphere that are situated as if at the extremities of a Latin cross
  2. the constellation of which these four stars are the brightest

Southern English -n

  1. the English spoken esp. by cultivated people native to or educated in the South of England
  2. southern

South·ern·er ['sə-thə(r)-nər] -n

  1. a native or inhabitant of the South
  2. a native or resident of the southern part of the U.S.

southern hemisphere -n

  1. the part of the earth that lies south of the equator

South·ern·ism ['sə-thər-,ni-zəm] -n

  1. an attitude or trait characteristic of the South or Southerners esp. in the U.S.
  2. a locution or pronunciation characteristic of the southern U.S.

southern lights -n pl

  1. aurora australis

south·ern·wood ['sə-thərn-,wu̇d] -n

  1. a shrubby fragrant European wormwood ( Artemisia abrotanum) with bitter foliage

south·ing ['sau̇-thiŋ, -th] -n

  1. difference in latitude to the south from the last preceding point of reckoning
  2. southerly progress

south·land ['sau̇th-,land, -lənd] -n

  1. land in the south : the south of a country

south·paw [-,pȯ] -n, adj

  1. left-hander
  2. a left-handed baseball pitcher

south pole -n

  1. the southernmost point of the earth
  2. the zenith of the heavens as viewed from the south terrestrial pole
  3. the pole that points toward the south

South·ron ['səth-rən] -adj

  1. southern
  2. english

Southron -n

  1. : southerner: as
  2. englishman
  3. a native or inhabitant of the southern U.S.

southseeking pole -n

  1. south pole

southsoutheast -n

  1. a compass point that is two points east of due south : S2230E

southsouthwest -n

  1. a compass point that is two points west of due south : S2230W

south·ward ['sau̇th-wərd] -adv or adj, adv

  1. toward the south

southward -n

  1. southward direction or part
    • sail to the southward

south·west [sau̇th-'west, naut sau̇-'west] -adv

  1. to, toward, or in the southwest

southwest -n

  1. the general direction between south and west
  2. the point midway between the south and west compass points
  3. regions or countries lying to the southwest of a specified or implied point of orientation
  4. coming from the southwest
    • a southwest wind
  5. situated toward or at the southwest
    • the southwest corner

southwest by south

  1. a compass point that is one point south of due southwest : S3345W

southwest by west

  1. a compass point that is one point west of due southwest : S5615W

south·west·er [sau̇(th)-'wes-tər] -n

  1. a strong southwest wind
  2. a storm with southwest winds

south·west·er·ly [-tər-lē] -adv or adj

  1. from the southwest
  2. toward the southwest

south·west·ern [-tərn] -adj

  1. lying toward or coming from the southwest
  2. of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated Southwest

southwestern corn borer -n

  1. a pyralid moth ( Diatraea grandiosella) whose larva causes serious damage esp. to corn crops by boring in the stalks

South·west·ern·er [sau̇(th)-'wes-tə(r)-nər] -n

  1. a native or inhabitant of the Southwest
  2. a native or resident of the southwestern U.S.

south·west·ward [sau̇(th)-'wes-twərd] -adv or adj, adv

  1. toward the southwest

southwestward -n

  1. southwest

sou·ve·nir ['sü-və-,nir, ,sü-və-'] -n

  1. something that serves as a reminder

souvenir sheet -n

  1. a block or set of postage stamps or a single stamp printed on a single sheet of paper often without gum or perforations and with margins containing lettering or design that identifies some notable event being commemorated

sou·vla·ki [süv-'lä-kē] -n

  1. shish kebab

sou'·west·er [sau̇-'wes-tər] -n

  1. a long oilskin coat worn esp. at sea during stormy weather
  2. a waterproof hat with wide slanting brim longer in back than in front

sov·er·eign ['sä-v(ə-)rən, -vərn also 'sə-] -n

  1. one possessing or held to possess sovereignty
  2. one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere
  3. an acknowledged leader : arbiter
  4. any of various gold coins of the United Kingdom

sovereign -adj, adv

  1. superlative in quality : excellent
  2. of the most exalted kind : supreme
    • sovereign virtue
  3. having generalized curative powers
    • a sovereign remedy
  4. of an unqualified nature : unmitigated
    • sovereign contempt
  5. having undisputed ascendancy : paramount
  6. possessed of supreme power
    • a sovereign ruler
  7. unlimited in extent : absolute
  8. enjoying autonomy : independent
    • sovereign states
  9. relating to, characteristic of, or befitting a sovereign

sov·er·eign·ty [-tē] -n

  1. supreme excellence or an example of it
  2. supreme power esp. over a body politic
  3. freedom from external control : autonomy
  4. controlling influence
  5. one that is sovereign
  6. an autonomous state

so·vi·et ['sō-vē-,et, 'sä-, -vē-ət] -n, adj

  1. an elected governmental council in a Communist country
  2. bolsheviks
  3. the people and esp. the political and military leaders of the U.S.S.R.

so·vi·et·ize ['sō-vē-,e-,tīz, 'sä-, -vē-ə-] -vt, n

  1. to bring under Soviet control
  2. to force into conformity with Soviet cultural patterns or governmental policies

So·vi·et·ol·o·gist [,sō-vē-,e-'tä-lə-jist, ,sä-, -vē-ə-] -n

  1. a specialist in the policies and practices of the Soviet government : kremlinologist

sov·khoz [säf-'kȯz, -'kȯs] -n

  1. a state-owned farm of the U.S.S.R. paying wages to the workers

sow ['sau̇] -n

  1. an adult female swine
  2. the adult female of various other animals (as a bear)
  3. a channel that conducts molten metal to molds
  4. a mass of metal solidified in such a mold : ingot
  5. to plant seed for growth esp. by scattering
  6. to set something in motion : begin an enterprise
  7. to scatter (as seed) upon the earth for growth
  8. plant
  9. to strew with or as if with seed
  10. to introduce into a selected environment : implant
  11. to set in motion : foment
    • sow suspicion
  12. to spread abroad : disperse

sow·bel·ly ['sau̇-,be-lē] -n

  1. fat salt pork or bacon

sow bug ['sau̇-] -n

  1. wood louse
  2. a wood louse capable of curling itself into a ball

sow·ens ['sü-ənz, 'sō-] -n pl but sing or pl in constr

  1. porridge from oat husks and siftings

sow thistle ['sau̇-] -n

  1. any of a genus ( Sonchus) of spiny weedy Eurasian and African composite herbs including some (as S. arvensisand S. oleraceus) widely naturalized in No. America

sox ['säk] -n, adj

(variant of sock)

  1. a low shoe or slipper
  2. a knitted or woven covering for the foot usu. worn under shoes and extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee
  3. a shoe worn by actors in Greek and Roman comedy
  4. comic drama
  5. to hit, strike, or apply forcefully
    • sock a home run
    • an area sock ed by a blizzard
  6. to deliver a blow : hit
  7. a vigorous or violent blow
  8. punch

SOx -symbol

  1. sulfur oxide

soy ['sȯi] -n

  1. a brown liquid sauce made by subjecting beans (as soybeans) to long fermentation and to digestion in brine
  2. soybean

soy·bean ['sȯi-,bēn] -n

  1. a hairy annual Asian legume ( Glycine max) widely grown for its oil-rich proteinaceous seeds and for forage and soil improvement
  2. its seed

soybean oil -n

  1. a pale yellow drying or semidrying oil that is obtained from soybeans and is used chiefly as a food, in paints, varnishes, linoleum, printing ink, and soap, and as a source of phospholipids, fatty acids, and sterols called also soya oil

soz·zled ['sä-zəld] -adj

  1. drunk, intoxicated