soak

¹soak

verb \ˈsōk\

Definition of SOAK

intransitive verb

1

: to lie immersed in liquid (as water) : become saturated by or as if by immersion

2

a : to enter or pass through something by or as if by pores or interstices : permeate

b : to penetrate or affect the mind or feelings —usually used with in or into

3

: to drink alcoholic beverages intemperately

transitive verb

1

: to permeate so as to wet, soften, or fill thoroughly

2

: to place in a surrounding element (as liquid) to wet or permeate thoroughly

3

: to extract by or as if by steeping <soak the dirt out>

4

a : to draw or take in by or as if by suction or absorption <soaked up the sunshine>

b : to intoxicate (oneself) by drinking alcoholic beverages

5

: to cause to pay an exorbitant amount

— soak·er noun

Examples of SOAK

1. You should soak those dirty clothes before you wash them.
2. The beans soaked in water overnight.
3. He relaxed and soaked in the tub.
4. After planting the seeds, soak the soil.
5. She soaked the dog with the hose.
6. His shirt was soaked with sweat.
7. I was soaked by the rain.
8. The oil soaked into the wood.
9. Sweat soaked through his shirt.
10. Rain soaked through her jacket.

Origin of SOAK

Middle English soken, from Old English socian; akin to Old English sūcan to suck

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SOAK

Synonyms

drench, drown, impregnate, macerate, saturate, sodden, sop, souse, steep

Antonyms

wring (out)

Related Words

waterlog, water-soak; marinate, seethe; presoak; dip, immerse, inundate, submerge, swamp; bathe, douse (also dowse), hydrate, swill, wash, water; infiltrate, penetrate, permeate; damp, dampen, humidify, moisten

Near Antonyms

dehydrate, desiccate, dry, parch, sear; drain, empty, void; dehumidify

Synonym Discussion of SOAK

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid. soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing <soak the garment in soapy water>. saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held <a saturated sponge>. drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured <clothes drenched by a cloudburst>. steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (as a color) to the thing immersed <steep the tea for five minutes>. impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another <a cake strongly impregnated with brandy>.

Rhymes with SOAK

bloke, broke, choke, cloak, coke, croak, folk, hoke, joke, moke, oak, poke, Polk, roque, smoke, soke, spoke, stoke, stroke, toke, toque, yogh, yoke, yolk

²soak

noun

Definition of SOAK

1

a : the act or process of soaking : the state of being soaked

b : that (as liquid) in which something is soaked

2

: drunkard

3

slang : ²pawn 2

Examples of SOAK

1. I had a long, hot soak in the tub.
2. <felt sorry for the town soak, who couldn't hold a job>

First Known Use of SOAK

15th century

Related to SOAK

Synonyms

alcoholic, alkie (or alky) [slang], boozehound, boozer, dipsomaniac, drinker, drunkard, inebriate, juicehead [slang], juicer [slang], lush, rummy, drunk, soaker, sot, souse, tippler, toper, tosspot

Related Words

swigger, swiller; wino

Near Antonyms

abstainer, nondrinker, teetotaler (or teetotaller), teetotalist

soak

noun \ˈsōk\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SOAK

: an often hot medicated solution with which a body part is soaked usually long or repeatedly especially to promote healing, relieve pain, or stimulate local circulation