Definition of 'sole'

sole

(soʊl )

Word forms: plural soles

1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

The sole thing or person of a particular type is the only one of that type.

Their sole aim is to destabilize the Indian government.

Synonyms: only, one, single, individual More Synonyms of sole

2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

If you have sole charge or ownership of something, you are the only person in charge of it or who owns it.

Many women are left as the sole providers in families after their husband has died.

Chief Hart had sole control over that fund.

3. countable noun

The sole of your foot or of a shoe or sock is the underneath surface of it.

...shoes with rubber soles.

He had burned the sole of his foot.

4. countable noun

A sole is a kind of flat fish that you can eat.

Sole is this fish eaten as food.

Video: pronunciation of
sole

sole in British English 1

(səʊl )

adjective

1. (prenominal)

being the only one; only

2. (prenominal)

of or relating to one individual or group and no other

sole rights on a patent

3. law

having no wife or husband

sole in British English 2

(səʊl )

noun

the underside of the foot

▶ Related adjectives: plantar, volar

the underside of a shoe

the bottom of a furrow

the bottom of a plough

the underside of a golf-club head

the bottom of an oven, furnace, etc

verb (transitive)

to provide (a shoe) with a sole

7. golf

to rest (the club) on the ground, as when preparing to make a stroke

Derived forms

soleless (ˈsoleless)

adjective

Word origin

C14: via Old French from Latin solea sandal; probably related to solum the ground

sole in British English 3

(səʊl )

nounWord forms: plural sole or soles

any tongue-shaped flatfish of the family Soleidae, esp Solea solea ( European sole): most common in warm seas and highly valued as food fishes

any of certain other similar fishes

Word origin

C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin sola (unattested), from Latin solea a sandal (from the fish's shape)

sole in American English 1

(soʊl )

adjective

without another or others; single; one and only

acting, working, etc. alone without help

of or having to do with only one ( specified) person or group

given or belonging to no other; not shared or divided; exclusive

the sole rights to a patent

4. Archaic

alone; solitary

5. Law

unmarried

sole in American English 2

(soʊl )

noun

the bottom surface of the foot

the part of a shoe, boot, sock, etc. corresponding to this

the bottom surface of any of several objects, as a golf club

verb transitiveWord forms: soled or ˌsoling

to furnish (a shoe, etc.) with a sole

Word origin

OFr < VL *sola, for L solea, sandal, sole, kind of fish < solum, sole, base, ground, bottom

sole in American English 3

(soʊl )

nounWord forms: plural sole or soles

any of various flatfishes (esp. family Soleidae) usually highly valued as food

Word origin

OFr < VL *sola, for L solea (see sole2): so named from its shape

sole in American English 1

(soul)

adjective

being the only one; only

the sole living relative

being the only one of the kind; unique; unsurpassed; matchless

the sole brilliance of the gem

belonging or pertaining to one individual or group to the exclusion of all others; exclusive

the sole right to the estate

functioning automatically or with independent power

the sole authority

5. chiefly Law

unmarried

without company or companions; lonely

the sole splendor of her life

7. archaic

alone

Derived forms

soleness

noun

Word origin

[1350–1400; ‹ L sōlus alone; r. ME soule alone ‹ OF sol ‹ L sōlus]

sole in American English 2

(soul) (verb soled, soling)

noun

the bottom or under surface of the foot

the corresponding under part of a shoe, boot, or the like, or this part exclusive of the heel

the bottom, under surface, or lower part of anything

4. Carpentry

the underside of a plane

soleplate

5. Golf

the part of the head of the club that touches the ground

transitive verb

to furnish with a sole, as a shoe

7. Golf

to place the sole of (a club) on the ground, as in preparation for a stroke

Derived forms

soleless

adjective

Word origin

[1275–1325; ME (n.) ‹ OF ‹ L solea sandal, sole, deriv. of solum base, bottom]

sole in American English 3

(soul)

nounWord forms: plural esp collectively sole or esp referring to two or more kinds or species soles

a European flatfish, Solea solea, used for food

any other flatfish of the families Soleidae and Cynoglossidae, having a hooklike snout

Word origin

[1300–50; ME ‹ MF ‹ OPr ‹ VL *sola (for L solea; see sole2), so called from its flat shape; cf. Sp suela, It soglia, Pg solha]

Examples of 'sole' in a sentence
sole

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Tuck into lemon sole and brown shrimps in the smart restaurant.The sole survivor of the family just keeps asking for his parents. Thus a sole trader or partnership would not be a corporation but limited companies are.Whether their disagreement was the sole or main reason for their divorce is unknown.This time he wore illegal shoes and had to change them for ones without orange soles.She wore simple cloth shoes with rubber soles because she could not afford trainers.The sole aim of a metaphor is to call up a visual image.The sole purpose of this was to protect the food chain but there is widespread abuse.You could sole your shoes with it.This will be true for a sole trader and in the majority of partnerships.

Word lists with
sole

Types of fish

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

Score: 0 / 5

Which type of fish am I?

a common North American freshwater sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus, with brightly coloured markings: family Centrarchidae

crappie darter pumpkinseed

Which type of fish am I?

any of various small freshwater voracious fishes of the genus Serrasalmus and related genera, of tropical America, having strong jaws and sharp teeth: family Characidae (characins)

piranha porcupine fish tetra

Which type of fish am I?

any herring-like salmonoid food fish of the genus Coregonus and family Coregonidae, typically of deep cold lakes of the N hemisphere, having large silvery scales and a small head

grayling herring whitefish

Which type of fish am I?

another name for callop

ahi golden perch kokopu

Which type of fish am I?

a North Atlantic scorpaenoid fish, Cyclopterus lumpus, having a globular body covered with tubercles, pelvic fins fused into a sucker, and an edible roe: family Cyclopteridae

lumpfish pogge sea snail

Your score: