Word
soil
US/ˈsɔɪɫ/
UK/sˈɔɪl/
Definitions
01earth for plants
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Science
n. the top layer of earth where plants, trees, and flowers grow.
n. the unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants.
“The gardener added some compost to the soil to help the roses grow.”
“The volcanic soil in this region is exceptionally fertile, providing the necessary nutrients for high-yield viticulture without the need for intensive chemical fertilisers.”
02territory or country
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Formal
n. the land that belongs to a specific country.
n. the land or territory belonging to a particular nation or state.
“It was the first time the athlete had competed on foreign soil.”
“The treaty explicitly forbids the stationing of foreign military personnel on sovereign soil during times of peace.”
03to make dirty
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make something dirty, especially clothes or hands.
v. to make something dirty or stained; often used in the passive voice to describe laundry or surfaces.
“Be careful not to soil your new white dress while playing outside.”
“The white upholstery was easily soiled by the constant traffic of visitors, necessitating a strict no-shoes policy in the gallery.”
04to damage a reputation
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to damage someone's good name or reputation.
v. to tarnish or mar a reputation, character, or record with disgrace.
“The scandal threatened to soil the family's reputation forever.”
“The accusations, though eventually proven false, served to soil his professional standing in a way that no formal apology could fully repair.”
05to have an accident
C1 · Advanced Medicine Technical · Formal
v. to accidentally go to the toilet in your clothes.
v. to dirty one's clothing by accidentally defecating or urinating while clothed.
“The patient was embarrassed because he had soiled himself during the night.”
“Nursing staff must monitor elderly patients for signs of distress if they have soiled themselves, ensuring they are cleaned promptly to prevent skin irritation.”
Usage
Often used as a reflexive verb: 'to soil oneself'.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “soil” in context.
Verb
01. contaminate soil
“Chemicals from the factory leaked and managed to contaminate the soil.”
verb + noun
02. enrich soil
“You can add compost to the garden to enrich the soil naturally.”
verb + noun
03. soil drains
“Sandy soil drains quickly, so it needs to be watered more often.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. acidic soil
“Blueberries grow best in acidic soil with a low pH level.”
adj + noun
05. fertile soil
“The valley is known for its fertile soil, which is perfect for growing grapes.”
adj + noun
06. moist soil
“Keep the soil moist but not wet to help the seeds germinate.”
adj + noun
07. native soil
“After twenty years abroad, he was happy to return to his native soil.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. layer of soil
“Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and water them gently.”
noun + prep + noun
09. soil moisture
10. clumps of dry soil
“He brushed the clumps of dry soil off his gardening boots.”
11. deplete the soil of
“Over-farming can quickly deplete the soil of essential nutrients.”
12. on british soil
“The treaty was finally signed on British soil after months of travel.”
Etymology
From Middle English soile, soyle, sule (“ground, earth”), partly from Anglo-Norman soyl (“bottom, ground, pavement”), from Latin solium (“seat, chair; throne”), mistaken for Latin solum (“ground, foundation, earth, sole of the foot”); and partly from Old English sol (“mud, mire, wet sand”), from Proto-Germanic sulą (“mud, spot”), from Proto-Indo-European sūl- (“thick liquid”). Cognate with Middle Low German söle (“dirt, mud”), Middle Dutch sol (“dirt, filth”), Middle High German sol, söl (“dirt, mud, mire”), Danish søle (“mud, muck”). Compare French seuil (“level; threshold”) and sol (“soil, earth; ground”). See also sole, soal, solum. For the sole and soil relation, compare typologically Russian по́чва (póčva) akin to подо́шва (podóšva).
From Middle English soilen, soulen, suylen (“to sully, make dirty”), partly from Old French soillier, souillier (“to soil, make dirty, wallow in mire”), from Old Frankish saulijan, sulwijan (“to make dirty, soil”); partly from Old English solian, sylian (“to soil, make dirty”), from Proto-Germanic sulwōną, sulwijaną, saulijaną (“to soil, make dirty”), from Proto-Indo-European sūl- (“thick liquid”). Cognate with Old Frisian sulia (“to soil, mire”), Middle Dutch soluwen, seulewen (“to soil, besmirch”), Old High German solōn, bisulen (“to make dirty”), German suhlen (“to soil, make dirty”), Danish søle (“to make dirty, defile”), Swedish söla (“to soil, make dirty”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐍃𐌰𐌿𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (bisauljan, “to bemire”). Compare sully.
From Middle English soyl, from Old French soil, souil (“quagmire, marsh”), from Frankish sōlja, saulja (“mire, miry place, wallow”), from Proto-Germanic saulijō (“mud, puddle, feces”), from Proto-Indo-European sūl- (“thick liquid”). Cognate with Old English syle, sylu, sylen (“miry place, wallow”), Old High German sol, gisol (“miry place”), German Suhle (“a wallow, mud pit, muddy pool”).
From Old French saoler, saouler (“to satiate”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
01. native soil
02. take soil
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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