I. ˈsälə̇d adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English solide, from Middle French, from Latin solidus; akin to Greek holos, entire — more at safe
1.
a. : having an interior filled with matter : being without an internal cavity
the knob is heavy because it is solid
the stalks of some plants are not solid
a solid tire
— opposed to hollow
b.
(1) : set in type without leads or other spacing material between the lines : close
a forbidding page full of solid black paragraphs
(2) : having no intervening space
the solid elements of a compound word
c. : not interrupted by any break or opening
the outer walls solid and windowless
the law requires a driver to stay on his own side of the solid line
2.
a. : having or involving three dimensions : cubic
a solid paraboloid
a solid foot contains 1728 solid inches
b. : of, relating to, or dealing with solid magnitudes
a solid equation
— see solid geometry
3.
a. : marked by density or compactness : of uniformly close and coherent texture or consistency : not disintegrated, loose, or spongy
a solid mass of rock
rain fell in solid sheets
the surgeon scraped back to solid healthy bone
b. : possessing or characterized by the properties of a solid : being neither gaseous nor liquid
the pavement is not yet solid
physics of the solid state
4. : of good and substantial quality or kind
solid comfort
as
a. : having merit or soundness
based his decision on solid reasons
b. : made firmly and well : sturdy
a solid chair
firm solid walls
c.
(1) : full sounding and having a strong rhythmic drive
solid jazz music
(2) : excellent in every respect — used especially of popular music
d. of immunity : capable of resisting severe challenge
intradermal inoculation of the virulent agent in guinea pigs resulted in solid immunity in all trials
5. : united or consolidated so as to form an integral whole: as
a. of time : having no break or interruption
stand for three solid hours
b. : unanimous
a solid delegation
the solid vote of a delegation
group opinion is solid
c. : united or joined in intimacy : being on good terms — used with with
make oneself solid with the chief
6.
a. : having or marked by sound judgment or knowledge : thoroughly grounded
solid thinkers
solid learning
b. : serious-minded , reliable , prudent ; often : well-established financially : having unimpaired credit
solid New Englanders
the solid men of the community
c. : serious in purpose or character : not trivial : not vain or frivolous
time for solid reading
7. : entirely of one substance, formation, kind, or character: as
a. : entirely of one metal : containing the minimum of alloy necessary to impart hardness
solid gold
b. : being or consisting of a single uniform color or tone
c. : having decorative details worked on solid material
a solid frame
Synonyms: see firm
II. adverb
: solidly ; often : unanimously
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin solidum, from neuter of solidus, adjective
1. : a magnitude that has the three dimensions length, breadth, and thickness : a part of space (as a cube, a sphere) bounded on all sides
2.
a. : a substance that does not flow perceptibly under moderate stress, has a definite capacity for resisting forces (as compression, tension, strain) which tend to deform it, and under ordinary conditions retains a definite size and shape — compare gas , liquid
b. : material in solution or suspension that when freed of solvent or suspending medium has the form and qualities of a solid — usually used in plural
the solids of the blood
milk solids include salts, protein, and sugar
— see solids-not-fat
3. : something (as a substantial mass) that is solid: as
a. : a compact mass of masonry or comparable fabrication (as a wall or pier) as distinguished from one containing a void or an opening
b. : coal in place that has not been sheared, undercut, or similarly prepared for blasting
c.
(1) : a solid color
(2) : a printing plate having an entirely smooth surface without etching or design of any kind that is used for printing a solid color and especially a tint
(3) : one of the darkest or heaviest printing areas of a haltone as distinguished from middletone or highlight areas
(4) : textile or other material of a solid color — usually used in plural
d. : a compound word whose members are joined together without a hyphen