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¹sole

noun \ˈsōl\

Definition of SOLE

: any of various flatfishes (family Soleidae) having a small mouth, small or rudimentary fins, and small eyes placed close together and including important food fishes (as the European Dover sole); also : any of various mostly market flatfishes (as lemon sole) of other families (as Pleuronectidae)

Origin of SOLE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin solea sandal, a flatfish

First Known Use: 13th century

Other Fishes Terms

char, chum, ichthyology, smelt, tetra, turbot

Rhymes with SOLE

bole, boll, bowl, coal, cole, Cole, dhole, dole, droll, foal, goal, hole, knoll, kohl, Kohl, mole, ole, pole, poll, prole, role, roll, scroll, Seoul, shoal, skoal, sol, soul, stole, stroll, thole, tole, toll, troll, vole, whole

²sole

noun

Definition of SOLE

a : the undersurface of a foot

b : the part of an item of footwear on which the sole rests and upon which the wearer treads

: the usually flat or flattened bottom or lower part of something or the base on which something rests

— soled \ˈsōld\ adjective

Origin of SOLE

Middle English, from Anglo-French sole, soele, from Latin solea sandal; akin to Latin solum base, ground, soil

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

³sole

transitive verb

: to put a new sole on (a shoe, boot, etc.)

soledsol·ing

Full Definition of SOLE

: to furnish with a sole <sole a shoe>

: to place the sole of (a golf club) on the ground

First Known Use of SOLE

circa 1570

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

⁴sole

adjective

: only or single

: belonging only to the person or group specified

Full Definition of SOLE

: not married —used chiefly of women

archaic : having no companion : solitary

a : having no sharer

b : being the only one <she was her mother's sole support>

: functioning independently and without assistance or interference <let conscience be the sole judge>

: belonging exclusively or otherwise limited to one usually specified individual, unit, or group

— sole·ness \ˈsōl-nəs\ noun

See sole defined for English-language learners

Origin of SOLE

Middle English, alone, from Anglo-French sul, soul, seul, from Latin solus

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SOLE

Synonyms: exclusive, single, unshared

Antonyms: nonexclusive

SOLE Defined for Kids

¹sole

noun \ˈsōl\

Definition of SOLE for Kids

: the bottom of the foot

: the bottom of a shoe, slipper, or boot

²sole

verb

soledsol·ing

Definition of SOLE for Kids

: to put a new sole on <sole shoes>

³sole

noun

Definition of SOLE for Kids

: a flatfish that has a small mouth and small eyes set close together and is often used for food

⁴sole

adjective

Definition of SOLE for Kids

: ¹single 1, only <the sole heir>

: limited or belonging only to the person or group mentioned <The coach had sole authority over the team.>

Medical Dictionary

sole

noun \ˈsōl\

Medical Definition of SOLE

: the undersurface of a foot

: the somewhat concave plate of moderately dense horn that covers the lower surface of the coffin bone of the horse, partly surrounds the frog, and is bounded externally by the wall