# sock

/ˈsɑk/ (US) · /sˈɒk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sock
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. footwear

noun · CEFR A2

a piece of clothing that you wear on your foot inside your shoe.

For teachers: a knitted or woven covering for the foot and lower leg, typically worn inside a shoe.

- He realized he was wearing one black sock and one blue sock.
- The hiker opted for thick woollen socks to prevent blisters during the long ascent up the mountain trail.

### 2. a hard hit

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a hard hit or punch with a fist.

For teachers: a powerful physical blow or punch delivered with the fist.

- The hero gave the villain a good sock on the jaw.
- In the old comic books, a physical confrontation often ended with a satisfying sock to the nose of the antagonist.

### 3. fake online account

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a fake social media account used by someone to hide their real identity.

For teachers: an abbreviation of 'sock puppet', referring to a secondary online identity used for purposes of deception or manipulation.

- The celebrity was caught using a sock to defend his own posts.
- Moderators quickly identified the user as a sock created specifically to circumvent the forum's permanent ban.

### 4. wind indicator

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a tube of cloth at an airport that shows which way the wind is blowing.

For teachers: a truncated cloth cone used at airfields to indicate wind direction and approximate speed.

- The pilot looked at the sock to check the wind before landing.
- The orange sock stood out against the grey sky, indicating a strong crosswind that would make the landing challenging.

### 5. to hit hard

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

to hit someone or something very hard.

For teachers: to strike someone or something with significant force, usually with the fist.

- He wanted to sock the man who had insulted his family.
- The boxer managed to sock his opponent squarely in the ribs, momentarily taking his breath away.

## Examples

- I need to buy a new pair of wool socks for winter.
- He took off his shoes and noticed a small hole in the toe of his left sock.
- Modern athletic socks are often engineered with moisture-wicking fabrics and reinforced arches to provide better support during high-impact activities like running.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.