soul

[ sohl ]

/ soʊl /

noun

the principle of life, feeling, thought, and action in humans, regarded as a distinct entity separate from the body, and commonly held to be separable in existence from the body; the spiritual part of humans as distinct from the physical part.

the spiritual part of humans regarded in its moral aspect, or as believed to survive death and be subject to happiness or misery in a life to come: arguing the immortality of the soul.

the disembodied spirit of a deceased person: He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.

the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.

a human being; person.

high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.

the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.

the inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc.

the embodiment of some quality: He was the very soul of tact.

(initial capital letter) Christian Science. God; the divine source of all identity and individuality.

shared ethnic awareness and pride among black people, especially black Americans.

deeply felt emotion, as conveyed or expressed by a performer or artist.

soul music.

adjective

of, characteristic of, or for black Americans or their culture: soul newspapers.

Origin of soul

before 900; Middle English; Old English sāwl, sāwol; cognate with Dutch ziel, German Seele, Old Norse sāl, Gothic saiwala

SYNONYMS FOR soul

1 spirit.

4 heart.

7 essence, core, heart.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR soul ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM soul

soul·like, adjective un·der·soul, noun

Words nearby soul

sought, sought after, sought-after, souk, soukous, soul, soul brother, soul cake, soul food, soul kiss, soul mate

Example sentences from the Web for soul

Education controls the transmission of values and molds the spirit before dominating the soul.

Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President |Pierre Assouline |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
You mix up English working-class gruffness with African-American soul from the Deep South.

The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker |Ted Gioia |December 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Perhaps every reproduction of a piece of art steals a part of its soul.

Tim Burton Talks ‘Big Eyes,’ His Taste For the Macabre, and the ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel |Marlow Stern |December 17, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Alas, his soul is willing, but his flesh is weak and he whiffs.

After Torture Report, Our Moral Authority As a Nation Is Gone |Nick Gillespie |December 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Suppressed, banned, scorned—it seems to speak to something within the human mind (or soul, if you like) that is irrepressible.

Meet Krampus, the Seriously Bad Santa |Jay Michaelson |December 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
His stomach was empty—which he knew, and his soul was empty—which he did not know.

A Rainy June and Other Stories |Ouida
Great activity and worry is needless—it is poison to the soul.

Shandygaff |Christopher Morley
She also beheld Jove sitting upon the highest top of many-rilled Ida, and he was hateful to her soul.

The Iliad of Homer (1873) |Homer
Elizabeth had loved Edward, would she not go with Mary to hear a mass for the repose of his soul?

In the Days of Queen Elizabeth |Eva March Tappan
Suppose now she stood before him, wonder-eyes raised, seeking his soul's truth; hands resting in his until he should speak.

Joyce of the North Woods |Harriet T. Comstock

British Dictionary definitions for soul (1 of 2)

soul

/ (səʊl) /

noun

the spirit or immaterial part of man, the seat of human personality, intellect, will, and emotions, regarded as an entity that survives the body after death Related adjective: pneumatic

Christianity the spiritual part of a person, capable of redemption from the power of sin through divine grace

the essential part or fundamental nature of anything

a person's feelings or moral nature as distinct from other faculties

Also called: soul music a type of Black music resulting from the addition of jazz, gospel, and pop elements to the urban blues style
(as modifier)a soul singer

(modifier) of or relating to Black Americans and their culture soul brother; soul food

nobility of spirit or temperament a man of great soul and courage

an inspiring spirit or leading figure, as of a cause or movement

a person regarded as typifying some characteristic or quality the soul of discretion

a person; individual an honest soul

the life and soul See life (def. 28)

upon my soul! an exclamation of surprise

Derived forms of soul

soul-like, adjective

Word Origin for soul

Old English sāwol; related to Old Frisian sēle, Old Saxon sēola, Old High German sēula soul

British Dictionary definitions for soul (2 of 2)

Soul

/ (səʊl) /

noun

Christian Science another word for God

Idioms and Phrases with soul

soul

In addition to the idiom beginning with soul

soul of, the

also see:

bare one's soul
heart and soul
keep body and soul together
kindred spirit (soul)
living soul

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

soul

noun

adjective

Origin of soul

SYNONYMS FOR soul

OTHER WORDS FROM soul

Words nearby soul

Example sentences from the Web for soul

British Dictionary definitions for soul (1 of 2)

noun

Derived forms of soul

Word Origin for soul

British Dictionary definitions for soul (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with soul

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

soul

noun

adjective

Origin of soul

SYNONYMS FOR soul

OTHER WORDS FROM soul

Words nearby soul

Words related to soul

Example sentences from the Web for soul

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for soul (1 of 2)

noun

Derived forms of soul

Word Origin for soul

British Dictionary definitions for soul (2 of 2)

noun

Idioms and Phrases with soul

British Dictionary definitions for soul (1 of 2)