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Definition of sole noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

sole

noun
 
/səʊl/
 
/səʊl/
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  1. [countable] the bottom surface of the foot
    • The hot sand burned the soles of their feet.
    Topics Bodyc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • thick
    • thin
    • leather
    phrases
    • the sole of your boot
    • the sole of your shoe
    • the soles of your feet
    See full entry
  2. [countable] the bottom part of a shoe or sock, not including the heel
    • leather soles
    • I’ve got a hole in the sole of my shoe.
    compare heel
    Homophones sole | soulsole   soul
     
    /səʊl/
     
    /səʊl/
    • sole adjective
      • John Dashwood is the sole male heir, so inherits the entire estate.
    • sole noun
      • He had a hole in the sole of his left shoe.
    • soul noun
      • Deep in her soul she knew she had to return to her country.
    Topics Clothes and Fashionc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • thick
    • thin
    • leather
    phrases
    • the sole of your boot
    • the sole of your shoe
    • the soles of your feet
    See full entry
  3. -soled
    (in adjectives) having the type of soles mentioned
    • rubber-soled shoes
  4. [uncountable, countable]
    (plural sole)
    a flat sea fish that is used for food see also lemon soleTopics Fish and shellfishc2
  5. Word Originnoun senses 1 to 3 Middle English: from Old French, from Latin solea ‘sandal, sill’, from solum ‘bottom, pavement, sole’; compare with Dutch zool and German Sohle. noun sense 4 Middle English: from Old French, from Provençal sola, from Latin solea ‘sandal, sill’, from solum ‘bottom, pavement, sole’, named from its shape.
See sole in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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