sole Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the underside of footwear or a golf club
  2. noun lean flesh of any of several flatfish
    fillet of sole.
  3. noun the underside of the foot
  4. noun right-eyed flatfish; many are valued as food; most common in warm seas especially European
  5. verb put a new sole on
    resole.
    • sole the shoes
  6. adjective satellite not divided or shared with others
    exclusive.
    • they have exclusive use of the machine
    • sole rights of publication
  7. adjective satellite being the only one; single and isolated from others
    lonesome; solitary; only; lone.
    • the lone doctor in the entire county
    • a lonesome pine
    • an only child
    • the sole heir
    • the sole example
    • a solitary instance of cowardice
    • a solitary speck in the sky

WordNet

Sole noun
Etymology
F. sole, L. solea; -- so named from its flat shape. See Sole of the foot.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of flatfishes of the genus Solea and allied genera of the family Soleidæ, especially the common European species (Solea vulgaris), which is a valuable food fish. (b) Any one of several American flounders somewhat resembling the true sole in form or quality, as the California sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata), the long-finned sole (Glyptocephalus zachirus), and other species.
Sole noun
Etymology
AS. sole, fr. L. soolea (or rather an assumed L. sola), akin to solumround, soil, sole of the foot. Cf. Exile, Saloon, Soil earth, Sole the fish.
Definitions
  1. The bottom of the foot; hence, also, rarely, the foot itself.
    The dove found no rest for the sole of her foot. Gen. viii. 9.
    Hast wandered through the world now long a day, Yet ceasest not thy weary soles to lead. Spenser.
  2. The bottom of a shoe or boot, or the piece of leather which constitutes the bottom.
    The "caliga" was a military shoe, with a very thick sole, tied above the instep. Arbuthnot.
  3. The bottom or lower part of anything, or that on which anything rests in standing. Specifially: (a) (Agric.) The bottom of the body of a plow; -- called also slade; also, the bottom of a furrow. (b) (Far.) The horny substance under a horse's foot, which protects the more tender parts. (c) (Fort.) The bottom of an embrasure. (d) (Naut.) A piece of timber attached to the lower part of the rudder, to make it even with the false keel. Totten. (e) (Mining) The seat or bottom of a mine; -- applied to horizontal veins or lodes.
Sole transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Soled ; present participle & verbal noun Soling
Definitions
  1. To furnish with a sole; as, to sole a shoe.
Sole adjective
Etymology
L. solus, or OF. sol, F. seul (fr. L. solus; cf. L. sollus whole, entire. Cf. Desolate, Solemn, Solo, Sullen.
Definitions
  1. Being or acting without another; single; individual; only.
    "The sole son of my queen." Shak.
    He, be sure . . . first and last will reign Sole king. Milton.
  2. (Law) Single; unmarried; as, a feme sole. Syn. -- Single; individual; only; alone; solitary.

Webster 1913