soil

Noun · Verb

Synonyms: dirt filth grime stain grease grunge land ground territory dirty begrime colly

WordNet 3.0

Noun (4)

the state of being covered with unclean thingsSynonyms: dirt filth grime stain grease grunge
the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rockSynonyms: dirt
material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use)“the land had never been plowed”“good agricultural soil”Synonyms: land ground
the geographical area under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state“American troops were stationed on Japanese soil”Synonyms: territory

Verb (1)

make soiled, filthy, or dirty“don't soil your clothes when you play outside!”Synonyms: dirty begrime grime colly bemire

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Soil \Soil\, n. [OE. soile, F. sol, fr. L. solum bottom, soil; but the word has probably been influenced in form by soil a miry place. Cf. Saloon, Soil a miry place, Sole of the foot.]

1.The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is particularly adapted to support and nourish them. [1913 Webster]

2.Land; country. [1913 Webster]

Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leave Thee, native soil?— Milton.[1913 Webster]

3.Dung; faeces; compost; manure; as, night soil. [1913 Webster]

Improve land by dung and other sort of soils.— Mortimer.[1913 Webster]

Soil pipe, a pipe or drain for carrying off night soil. [1913 Webster]

Soil \Soil\ (soil), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Soiled (soild); p. pr. & vb. n. Soiling.] [OF. saoler, saouler, to satiate, F. so[^u]ler, L. satullare, fr. satullus, dim. of satur sated. See Satire.] To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure, with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of sending them out to pasture; hence (such food having the effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food; as, to soil a horse. [1913 Webster]

Soil \Soil\, v. i. To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark ones. [1913 Webster]

Soil \Soil\, v. t. To enrich with soil or muck; to manure. [1913 Webster]

Men . . . soil their ground, not that they love the dirt, but that they expect a crop. --South. [1913 Webster]

Soil \Soil\, n. [See Soil to make dirty, Soil a miry place.] That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain. [1913 Webster]

A lady's honor . . . will not bear a soil. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

Soil \Soil\, n. [OF. soil, souil, F. souille, from OF. soillier, F. souiller. See Soil to make dirty.] A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought for by other game, as deer. [1913 Webster]

As deer, being stuck, fly through many soils, Yet still the shaft sticks fast. --Marston. [1913 Webster]

To take soil, to run into the mire or water; hence, to take refuge or shelter. [1913 Webster]

O, sir, have you taken soil here? It is well a man may reach you after three hours' running.— B. Jonson.[1913 Webster]

Soil \Soil\, v. t.[OE. soilen, OF. soillier, F. souiller, (assumed) LL. suculare, fr. L. sucula a little pig, dim. of sus a swine. See Sow, n.]

1.To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust. [1913 Webster]

Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained.— Milton.[1913 Webster]

2.To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To foul; dirt; dirty; begrime; bemire; bespatter; besmear; daub; bedaub; stain; tarnish; sully; defile; pollute. [1913 Webster]