/ sɔɪl; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun [ U , C ]
1.
the top layer of the earth in which plants, trees, etc. grow :
poor / dry / acid / sandy / fertile, etc. soil
the study of rocks and soils
soil erosion
2.
( literary ) a country; an area of land :
It was the first time I had set foot on African soil.
➡ note at floor
■ verb
[ vn ] [ often passive ] ( formal ) to make sth dirty :
soiled linen
( figurative )
I don't want you soiling your hands with this sort of work (= doing sth unpleasant or wrong) .
—see also shop-soiled
••
SYNONYMS
soil
mud ♦ clay ♦ land ♦ earth ♦ dirt ♦ ground
These are all words for the top layer of the earth in which plants grow.
soil
the top layer of the earth in which plants grow:
Plant the seedlings in damp soil.
mud
wet soil that is soft and sticky:
The car wheels got stuck in the mud.
clay
a type of heavy sticky soil that becomes hard when it is baked and is used to make things such as pots and bricks:
The tiles are made of clay.
land
an area of ground, especially of a particular type:
an area of rich, fertile land
earth
the substance that plants grow in.
NOTE
Earth is often used about the soil found in gardens or used for gardening:
She put some earth into the pot.
dirt
( especially NAmE ) soil, especially loose soil:
Pack the dirt firmly around the plants.
ground
an area of soil:
The car got stuck in the muddy ground.
•
They drove across miles of rough, stony ground.
NOTE
Ground is not used for loose soil: a handful of dry ground
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
good / rich soil / land / earth
fertile / infertile soil / land / ground
to dig the soil / land / earth / ground
to cultivate the soil / land / earth / ground
a lump of soil / mud / clay / earth
a piece of clay / land / earth / ground
a plot of land / ground
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun late Middle English : from Anglo-Norman French , perhaps representing Latin solium seat, by association with solum ground.
verb Middle English (as a verb): from Old French soiller , based on Latin sucula , diminutive of sus pig.