soil: Meaning and Definition of

soil

Pronunciation: (soil), [key]
— n.
  1. the portion of the earth's surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus.
  2. a particular kind of earth: sandy soil.
  3. the ground as producing vegetation or as cultivated for its crops: fertile soil.
  4. a country, land, or region: an act committed on American soil.
  5. the ground or earth: tilling the soil.
  6. any place or condition providing the opportunity for growth or development: Some believe that poverty provides the soil for crime.

soil

Pronunciation: (soil), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to make unclean, dirty, or filthy, esp. on the surface: to soil one's clothes.
  2. to smirch, smudge, or stain: The ink soiled his hands.
  3. to sully or tarnish, as with disgrace; defile morally: to soil one's good name.
—v.i.
  1. to become soiled: White soils easily.
—n.
  1. the act or fact of soiling.
  2. the state of being soiled.
  3. a spot, mark, or stain.
  4. dirty or foul matter; filth; sewage.
  5. ordure; manure.

soil

Pronunciation: (soil), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to feed (confined cattle, horses, etc.) freshly cut green fodder for roughage.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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