soldier

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Cooking British English

n. a thin strip of toast used for dipping into a soft-boiled egg.

n. a narrow strip of buttered toast or bread intended for dipping into the yolk of a soft-boiled egg.

“The child dipped a buttery toast soldier into the runny yellow egg.”

“A traditional British breakfast often includes soft-boiled eggs served in ceramic cups with a side of crisp toast soldiers.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

n. a low-ranking member of a criminal group like the mafia.

n. a low-level member of a criminal organization, specifically the American Mafia, who operates under the command of a caporegime.

“The police arrested several soldiers who were working for the local crime family.”

“In the hierarchy of the syndicate, a soldier must prove his loyalty through years of service before being considered for promotion.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. a type of ant or termite with a large head that protects the nest.

n. a specialized caste of social insects, such as termites or ants, anatomically modified for the defense of the colony.

“The soldier termites used their large jaws to block the entrance to the nest.”

“The colony's survival depends on the soldier caste's ability to repel predatory ants during a breach of the mound.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to continue working or trying hard even when things are difficult.

v. to persist or persevere in a task or situation despite hardship or lack of motivation; often used with 'on'.

“Even though she was exhausted, she decided to soldier on until the project was finished.”

“Despite the dwindling budget and lack of public support, the research team chose to soldier on with their experiments.”