sole

1
[ sohl ]
See synonyms for: solesolessoleness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. being the only one; only: the sole living relative.

  2. being the only one of the kind; unsurpassed; unique; matchless: the sole brilliance of the gem.

  1. belonging or pertaining to one individual or group to the exclusion of all others; exclusive: the sole right to the estate.

  2. functioning automatically or with independent power: the sole authority.

  3. Chiefly Law. not married; unmarried.

  4. without company or companions; lonely: the sole splendor of her life.

  5. Archaic. alone.

Origin of sole

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English sol(e), soul(e) “unmarried, single, alone,” from Old French sol, sol(e), sul, from Latin sōlus “alone, on one's own, lonely”

Other words for sole

Other words from sole

  • soleness, noun

Other definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole2
[ sohl ]

noun
  1. the bottom or under surface of the foot.

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

  1. the bottom, under surface, or lower part of anything.

  2. Carpentry.

  3. Golf. the part of the head of the club that touches the ground.

verb (used with object),soled, sol·ing.
  1. to furnish with a sole, as a shoe.

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

Origin of sole

2
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English (noun) sole, sol(le), from Old French sole, sol(le), soul, from Vulgar Latin, Medieval Latin sola, from Latin solea “plain sandal (fastened with thongs); sole (fish); foundation (timber),” derivative of solum “base, floor, bottom”

Other words from sole

  • soleless, adjective

Other definitions for sole (3 of 3)

sole3
[ sohl ]

noun,plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) soles.
  1. a European flatfish, Solea solea, used for food.

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

Origin of sole

3
First recorded in 1250–1300; see origin at sole2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use sole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

sole1

/ (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

  1. law having no wife or husband: See also feme sole

  2. an archaic word for solitary

Origin of sole

1
C14: from Old French soule, from Latin sōlus alone

Derived forms of sole

  • soleness, noun

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole2

/ (səʊl) /


noun
  1. the underside of the foot: Related adjectives: plantar, volar

  2. the underside of a shoe

    • the bottom of a furrow

    • the bottom of a plough

  1. the underside of a golf-club head

  2. the bottom of an oven, furnace, etc

verb(tr)
  1. to provide (a shoe) with a sole

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

Origin of sole

2
C14: via Old French from Latin solea sandal; probably related to solum the ground

Derived forms of sole

  • soleless, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

sole3

/ (səʊl) /


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

  2. any of certain other similar fishes

Origin of sole

3
C14: via Old French from Vulgar Latin sola (unattested), from Latin solea a sandal (from the fish's shape)

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