n. & v.
—n.
1 the under-surface of the foot.
2 the part of a shoe, sock, etc., corresponding to this (esp. excluding the heel).
3 the lower surface or base of an implement, e.g. a plough, golf-club head, etc.
4 the floor of a ship's cabin.
—v.tr. provide (a shoe etc.) with a sole.
Phrases and idioms:
sole-plate the bedplate of an engine etc.
Derivatives:
-soled adj. (in comb.).
Etymology: OF ult. f. L solea sandal, sill: cf. OE unrecorded solu or sola f. solum bottom, pavement, sole
2.
n. any flatfish of the family Soleidae, esp. Solea solea used as food.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. Prov. sola ult. f. L solea (as SOLE(1), named from its shape)
3.
adj.
1 (attrib.) one and only; single, exclusive (the sole reason; has the sole right).
2 archaic or Law (esp. of a woman) unmarried.
3 archaic alone, unaccompanied.
Derivatives:
solely adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF soule f. L sola fem. of solus alone
Useful english dictionary. 2012.