soul

¹soul

noun \ˈsōl\

Definition of SOUL

1

: the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life

2

a : the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe b capitalized Christian Science : god 1b

3

: a person's total self

4

a : an active or essential part b : a moving spirit : leader

5

a : the moral and emotional nature of human beings b : the quality that arouses emotion and sentiment c : spiritual or moral force : fervor

6

: person <not a soul in sight>

7

: personification <she is the soul of integrity>

8

a : a strong positive feeling (as of intense sensitivity and emotional fervor) conveyed especially by black American performers b : negritude c : soul music d : soul food e : soul brother

Examples of SOUL

1. the souls of the dead
2. He could not escape the guilt that he felt in the inner recesses of his soul.
3. Some poor soul was asking for handouts on the street.
4. a village of barely a hundred souls

Origin of SOUL

Middle English soule, from Old English sāwol; akin to Old High German sēula soul

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SOUL

Synonyms: psyche, spirit

Related Words: life, vitality; being, essence, quintessence

Near Antonyms: body, flesh

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with SOUL

bole, boll, bowl, coal, cole, Cole, dhole, dole, droll, foal, goal, hole, knoll, kohl, Kohl, mole, ole, pole, poll, prole, role, roll, scroll, Seoul, shoal, skoal, sol, sole, stole, stroll, thole, tole, toll, troll, vole, whole