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noun Soil n. 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. 2.Land; country. "Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leave Thee, native soil?" 3.Dung; faeces; compost; manure; as, night soil. "Improve land by dung and other sort of soils." Soil pipe, a pipe or drain for carrying off night soil.
Soil n. 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. "As deer, being stuck, fly through many soils, Yet still the shaft sticks fast." To take soil, to run into the mire or water; hence, to take refuge or shelter. "O, sir, have you taken soil here? It is well a man may reach you after three hours' running."
Soil n. That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain. "A lady's honor... will not bear a soil."
verb Soil v. t. (past & past part. soiled; pres. part. soiling) 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.
Soil v. t. To enrich with soil or muck; to manure. "Men... soil their ground, not that they love the dirt, but that they expect a crop."
Soil v. t. 1.To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust. "Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained." 2.To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully. Synonyms: To foul; dirt; dirty; begrime; bemire; bespatter; besmear; daub; bedaub; stain; tarnish; sully; defile; pollute.
Soil v. i. To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark ones.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
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