soiled; soiling; soils
1
: to stain or defile morally : corrupt
2
: to make unclean especially superficially : dirty
3
: to blacken or taint (something, such as a person's reputation) by word or deed
: to become soiled or dirty
1
: firm land : earth
2
a
: the upper layer of earth that may be dug or plowed and in which plants grow
b
: the superficial unconsolidated and usually weathered part of the mantle of a planet and especially of the earth
4
: the agricultural life or calling
5
: a medium in which something takes hold and develops
soiled; soiling; soils
: to feed (livestock) in the barn or an enclosure with fresh grass or green food
also
: to purge (livestock) by feeding on green food
Synonyms
Examples of soil in a Sentence
Verb (1)
oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt
Noun (1)
got some sort of soil on my white pants
the horse lifted its tail and deposited its soil on the grass
Noun (2)
bought rich soil to plant flowers in
happy to have soil under my feet after that long sea voyage
Recent Examples on the Web
Evan Bush, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
For dishes that are lightly soiled and don't contain food with a high viscosity, Vuong recommends soaking the dishes for 5-10 minutes in hot, soapy water.
—Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2024
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
Companies like Descartes Labs use AI to analyze satellite imagery, providing real-time insights into soil health, crop yields and water availability.
—Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for soil 
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Verb
So in 1929, the president of the National League required umpires to start soiling balls for better grip, according to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
For dishes that are lightly soiled and don't contain food with a high viscosity, Vuong recommends soaking the dishes for 5-10 minutes in hot, soapy water.
—Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2024
Noun
Over four decades later, new soil samples taken from the same regions still indicated a better fungi and bacteria presence than the areas that did not host gophers.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024
Companies like Descartes Labs use AI to analyze satellite imagery, providing real-time insights into soil health, crop yields and water availability.
—Shelli Brunswick, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for soil
Articles Related to soil
Dictionary Entries Near soil
Cite this Entry
“Soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soil. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
soil
1 of 3 verb
: to make or become dirty
soil
2 of 3 noun1
b
: moral soilage : corruption
2
: something that soils or pollutes
soil
3 of 3 noun1
: firm land : earth
2
: the loose surface material of the earth in which plants grow
4
: an environment in which something may take root and grow
slums are fertile soil for crime
Etymology
Verb
Middle English soilen "to corrupt, make dirty," from early French soiller "to wallow," from soil "pigsty"
Noun
Middle English soil "earth," from early French soil (same meaning), derived from Latin solea "sole, sandal, foundation timber"
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