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
Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
Shrub Oak said some students have conditions that lead them to soil themselves — sometimes intentionally — and that staff are always available to let students in the locked bathrooms.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 8 May 2024
According to journalist and author Molly C. Crosby, Blackburn collected garments soiled with blood and vomit from Yellow Fever victims.
—TIME, 4 May 2024
She’s grown up dirt poor, been sent to a convent and winds up summoned to the bedroom of a bored, pampered king who cycles through mistresses as if they were soiled laundry.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024
But Take Note The skirt isn’t waterproof, so if your baby moves around a lot through the night, there’s still a chance of soiling the sides of the mattress.
—Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
In addition to the cutting boards, the deli slicer was soiled.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
There was also soiled equipment sitting by the dishwashing area.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
The myriad corruption investigations around the Tokyo Olympics are the latest to soil recent Games.
—Yuri Kageyama and Stephen Wade, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 3 May 2024
The vineyard was planted just about three decades ago and has a high amount of clay soils, which aid in storing water for the vines when rain is scarce.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 2 May 2024
China is set to launch the first-ever mission, known as Chang'e 6, on Friday to collect rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 May 2024
Geological activity formed outcroppings of ancient oceanic crust called serpentine soils, which lend the region its uniqueness.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 2 May 2024
Use well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes to avoid wet soil conditions.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 1 May 2024
But zoning officials always wants one more thing: Architectural drawings, soil samples, and inspections.
—Daryl James, Orange County Register, 1 May 2024
Bits of organic Earth soil and other nutrients was also added to the sand and Martian regolith samples to improve water retention and root holding.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2024
Monitor the plant for the first month or two, testing for dry soil between waterings to establish a watering schedule.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2024
Verb
During her testimony, Hailey said Hayden had soiled his diaper and took too long to get a juice box from the refrigerator before Joseph got angry and began punching him in the chest and head repeatedly, the Sun Herald and WLOXreported.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
Shrub Oak said some students have conditions that lead them to soil themselves — sometimes intentionally — and that staff are always available to let students in the locked bathrooms.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 8 May 2024
According to journalist and author Molly C. Crosby, Blackburn collected garments soiled with blood and vomit from Yellow Fever victims.
—TIME, 4 May 2024
She’s grown up dirt poor, been sent to a convent and winds up summoned to the bedroom of a bored, pampered king who cycles through mistresses as if they were soiled laundry.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024
But Take Note The skirt isn’t waterproof, so if your baby moves around a lot through the night, there’s still a chance of soiling the sides of the mattress.
—Kelsey Kunik, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
In addition to the cutting boards, the deli slicer was soiled.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
There was also soiled equipment sitting by the dishwashing area.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2024
The myriad corruption investigations around the Tokyo Olympics are the latest to soil recent Games.
—Yuri Kageyama and Stephen Wade, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
Noun
She was raised in the racist waters and grew up in the same soil and was fed the same food of the Jim Crow South.
—Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 3 May 2024
The vineyard was planted just about three decades ago and has a high amount of clay soils, which aid in storing water for the vines when rain is scarce.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 2 May 2024
China is set to launch the first-ever mission, known as Chang'e 6, on Friday to collect rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 May 2024
Geological activity formed outcroppings of ancient oceanic crust called serpentine soils, which lend the region its uniqueness.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 2 May 2024
Use well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes to avoid wet soil conditions.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 1 May 2024
But zoning officials always wants one more thing: Architectural drawings, soil samples, and inspections.
—Daryl James, Orange County Register, 1 May 2024
Bits of organic Earth soil and other nutrients was also added to the sand and Martian regolith samples to improve water retention and root holding.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 1 May 2024
Monitor the plant for the first month or two, testing for dry soil between waterings to establish a watering schedule.
—Lynn McAlpine, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soil. Accessed 18 May. 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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