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
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
Heavily soiled or infrequently washed items, like curtains, may also benefit from being washed in warm or hot water.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2024
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2024
Compost, soil and green waste, as well as the nursery trade, have been blamed for the movement of those pests.
—CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for soil 
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Verb
Then there were the surges of other respiratory viruses like RSV after people began shedding COVID precautions as if they were soiled underwear.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
Heavily soiled or infrequently washed items, like curtains, may also benefit from being washed in warm or hot water.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
In spring when cleaning up your garden, remove any remaining pieces of newspaper or mix them into your soil.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2024
Compost, soil and green waste, as well as the nursery trade, have been blamed for the movement of those pests.
—CBS News, 24 Oct. 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 8 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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