sole

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 FROM sole

soleness, noun

Other definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole²

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

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.

Carpentry.

the underside of a plane.
soleplate.

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

verb (used with object), soled, sol·ing.

to furnish with a sole, as a shoe.

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

Origin of sole

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 ]

/ soʊl /

noun, plural (especially collectively) sole, (especially 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.

Origin of sole

First recorded in 1250–1300; see origin at sole²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sole in a sentence

Thursday night’s winner moves at least temporarily into sole possession of first place, with the Rams set to play Monday night at Tampa.
Kyler Murray runs out of miracles as Seahawks hang on to take over first place in NFC West|Mark Maske|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
This spring, when the coronavirus pandemic shut down the factory where his father worked, Ramos became the household’s sole breadwinner for a few months, working at a plant that packages meat.
Inside the Lives of Immigrant Teens Working Dangerous Night Shifts in Suburban Factories|by Melissa Sanchez|November 19, 2020|ProPublica
Then, without warning, she was put in a position where she had to take care of her grandkids as the sole caregiver.
‘What we’ve seen since covid has been a precipitous increase in need,’ says Feeding America CEO|KK Ottesen|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
Leaders in the Clear Creek district, which serves 42,000 students, named him as the sole finalist for the position on Monday.
Loudoun County Schools Superintendent Williams will leave job for Texas position|Hannah Natanson|November 10, 2020|Washington Post

Brannon says Tesla isn’t AAA’s sole concern, citing names like Volvo’s PilotAssist and Daimler’s DrivePilot as also potentially confusing.
What’s in a name? For Tesla’s Full Self Driving, it may be danger|dzanemorris|November 8, 2020|Fortune
His shirt was torn, one of his worn sneakers was more like a rubber-soled barge—the SS Nike.
Uncovering the Secrets of St. Kitts|Debra A. Klein|June 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There were Chinese beauties stepping gingerly in their red-soled Louboutin heels.
The East Is Red: Diane von Furstenberg's High-Fashion China Bash|Melinda Liu|April 1, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Half-boots of leather, thickly soled, as if chosen in anticipation of a long journey, covered her small feet.
Michael Strogoff|Jules Verne
Then the mother gently poked and pushed her little one, persuading her to get up and try her tiny, soft-soled feet.
Red Hunters And the Animal People|Charles A. Eastman
Dragging my heavy leaden-soled boots, I pushed through a shapely silver doorway, and a fish darted past me as I entered.
Us and the Bottleman|Edith Ballinger Price
He was wearing a pair of brown-cotton trousers, a blue shirt without a tie, and rope-soled slippers.
The Five Arrows|Allan Chase
He had a thick stick in his hand, and Frobisher saw that he was wearing thick, wooden-soled Chinese boots.
A Chinese Command|Harry Collingwood

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

sole¹

/ (səʊl) /

adjective

(prenominal) being the only one; only

(prenominal) of or relating to one individual or group and no othersole rights on a patent

law having no wife or husbandSee also feme sole

an archaic word for solitary

Derived forms of sole

soleness, noun

Word Origin for sole

C14: from Old French soule, from Latin sōlus alone

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

sole²

/ (səʊl) /

noun

the underside of the footRelated 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 (tr)

to provide (a shoe) with a sole

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

Derived forms of sole

soleless, adjective

Word Origin for sole

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

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

sole³

/ (səʊl) /

noun 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 for sole

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sole

OTHER WORDS FOR sole

Origin of sole

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

Other definitions for sole (2 of 3)

Origin of sole

OTHER WORDS FROM sole

Other definitions for sole (3 of 3)

Origin of sole

Words related to sole

How to use sole in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for sole (1 of 3)

Derived forms of sole

Word Origin for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (2 of 3)

Derived forms of sole

Word Origin for sole

British Dictionary definitions for sole (3 of 3)

Word Origin for sole