I. ˈsōk verb
Etymology: Middle English soken, from Old English socian; akin to Old English sūcan to suck
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1. : to lie immersed in liquid (as water) : become saturated by or as if by immersion
2.
a. : to enter or pass through something by or as if by pores or interstices : permeate
b. : to penetrate or affect the mind or feelings — usually used with in or into
3. : to drink alcoholic beverages intemperately
transitive verb
1. : to permeate so as to wet, soften, or fill thoroughly
2. : to place in a surrounding element (as liquid) to wet or permeate thoroughly
3. : to extract by or as if by steeping
soak the dirt out
4.
a. : to draw or take in by or as if by suction or absorption
soak ed up the sunshine
b. : to intoxicate (oneself) by drinking alcoholic beverages
5. : to cause to pay an exorbitant amount
• soak·er noun
Synonyms:
soak , saturate , drench , steep , impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid. soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing
soak the garment in soapy water
saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held
a saturated sponge
drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured
clothes drenched by a cloudburst
steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (as a color) to the thing immersed
steep the tea for five minutes
impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another
a cake strongly impregnated with brandy
II. noun
Date: 15th century
1.
a. : the act or process of soaking : the state of being soaked
b. : that (as liquid) in which something is soaked
2. : drunkard
3. slang : pawn II,2