v. & n.
--v.
1. tr. & intr. make or become thoroughly wet through saturation with or in liquid.
2 tr. (of rain etc.) drench.
3 tr. (foll. by in, up) a absorb (liquid). b acquire (knowledge etc.) copiously.
4 refl. (often foll. by in) steep (oneself) in a subject of study etc.
5 intr. (foll. by in, into, through) (of liquid) make its way or penetrate by saturation.
6 tr. colloq. extract money from by an extortionate charge, taxation, etc. (soak the rich).
7 intr. colloq. drink persistently, booze.
8 tr. (as soaked adj.) very drunk.
--n.
1. the act of soaking or the state of being soaked.
2 a drinking-bout.
3 colloq. a hard drinker.
Derivatives:
soakage n. soaker n. soaking n. & adj.
Etymology: OE socian rel. to soc sucking at the breast, sucan SUCK