soil

1 of 4

verb (1)

soiled; soiling; soils

transitive verb

1
: to stain or defile morally : corrupt
2
: to make unclean especially superficially : dirty
3
: to blacken or taint (something, such as a person's reputation) by word or deed

intransitive verb

: to become soiled or dirty

soil

2 of 4

noun (1)

1
a
: soilage, stain
protect a dress from soil
b
: moral defilement : corruption
2
: something that spoils or pollutes: such as
a
: refuse
b
: sewage

soil

3 of 4

noun (2)

1
: firm land : earth
2
a
: the upper layer of earth that may be dug or plowed and in which plants grow
b
: the superficial unconsolidated and usually weathered part of the mantle of a planet and especially of the earth
3
: country, land
our native soil
4
: the agricultural life or calling
5
: a medium in which something takes hold and develops

soil

4 of 4

verb (2)

soiled; soiling; soils

transitive verb

: to feed (livestock) in the barn or an enclosure with fresh grass or green food
also : to purge (livestock) by feeding on green food

Examples of soil in a Sentence

Verb (1) oil and grease soiled the mechanic's shirt Noun (1) got some sort of soil on my white pants the horse lifted its tail and deposited its soil on the grass Noun (2) bought rich soil to plant flowers in happy to have soil under my feet after that long sea voyage
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
If, during the dinner, the tablecloth is spotted or soiled, a fresh napkin is immediately placed over it. John Mariani, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 When Lamb checked out Sunday, cleaning staff found bloodied and soiled sheets in yard waste bags, but threw them away without notifying police, the source said. David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
Teams will eventually undertake soil studies and drone-based, multispectral ground sensing to measure potential improvements to soil quality and carbon capture capacity on farmland that uses these techniques. Robin Roenker, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025 To minimize outdoor pollution during poor air quality, officials urged people to carpool; telecommute; reduce trips or take public transportation; slow down when driving on dirt roads; and stabilize loose soils. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for soil

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French soiller, suiller, from Old French soil wallow of a wild boar, abyss, from Latin solium chair, bathtub; akin to Latin sedēre to sit — more at sit

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, soil, piece of land, from Vulgar Latin *solium, alteration of Latin solea sole, sandal, foundation timber — more at sole

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1501, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soil was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soil. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

soil

1 of 3 verb
: to make or become dirty

soil

2 of 3 noun
1
a
b
: moral soilage : corruption
2
: something that soils or pollutes

soil

3 of 3 noun
1
: firm land : earth
2
: the loose surface material of the earth in which plants grow
3
4
: an environment in which something may take root and grow
slums are fertile soil for crime
Etymology

Verb

Middle English soilen "to corrupt, make dirty," from early French soiller "to wallow," from soil "pigsty"

Noun

Middle English soil "earth," from early French soil (same meaning), derived from Latin solea "sole, sandal, foundation timber"

More from Merriam-Webster on soil

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