soil 1
— soilless , adj.
/soyl/ , n.
1. the portion of the earth's surface consisting of disintegrated rock and humus.
2. a particular kind of earth: sandy soil.
3. the ground as producing vegetation or as cultivated for its crops: fertile soil.
4. a country, land, or region: an act committed on American soil.
5. the ground or earth: tilling the soil.
6. any place or condition providing the opportunity for growth or development: Some believe that poverty provides the soil for crime.
[ 1300-50; ME soile soyl solium seat, confused with solum ground ]
soil 2
/soyl/ , v.t.
1. to make unclean, dirty, or filthy, esp. on the surface: to soil one's clothes.
2. to smirch, smudge, or stain: The ink soiled his hands.
3. to sully or tarnish, as with disgrace; defile morally: to soil one's good name.
v.i.
4. to become soiled: White soils easily.
n.
5. the act or fact of soiling.
6. the state of being soiled.
7. a spot, mark, or stain.
8. dirty or foul matter; filth; sewage.
9. ordure; manure.
[ 1175-1225; ME soilen (v.) souiller, soillier to dirty suculare, equiv. to su ( s ) pig + -cul ( us ) -CLE 1 + -are inf. ending ]
Syn. 3. blacken, taint, debase.
soil 3
/soyl/ , v.t.
to feed (confined cattle, horses, etc.) freshly cut green fodder for roughage.
[ 1595-1605; orig. uncert. ]