Main Entry:

¹so·cial

Pronunciation:

\ˈsō-shəl\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin socialis, from socius companion, ally, associate; akin to Old English secg man, companion, Latin sequi to follow — more at sue

Date:

14th century

1: involving allies or confederates <the Social War between the Athenians and their allies>2 a: marked by or passed in pleasant companionship with one's friends or associates <leads a very full social life> b: sociable c: of, relating to, or designed for sociability <a social club>3: 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>4 a: tending to form cooperative and interdependent relationships with others of one's kind : gregarious b: living and breeding in more or less organized communities <social insects> cof a plant : tending to grow in groups or masses so as to form a pure stand5 a: of, relating to, or based on rank or status in a particular society <a member of our social set> b: of, relating to, or characteristic of the upper classes c: formal6: being such in social situations <a social drinker>