sole

UK: /ˈsəʊl/ US: /soʊl/ ,(sōl)

Inflections of 'sole' (n):

sole

npl (Especially when thought of as a group)

soles

npl (Especially for different kinds or species)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sole¹ /soʊl/   adj. [before a noun]

1. being the only one;
   only:
   the sole living relative.
2. belonging or relating to one individual or group and not to others;
   exclusive:
   sole right to the estate.

sole•ly, adv.: 

he did it solely through his own efforts.

See -sole-.

sole² /soʊl/   n., v., soled, sol•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. the undersurface of a foot.
2. Clothing the corresponding under part of a shoe or other footwear.

v. [~ + object]

3. Clothing to furnish with a sole.

sole³ /soʊl/   n. [countable] , pl. (esp. when thought of as a group) sole, (esp. for kinds or species) soles. 

1. Fish a kind of edible flatfish having a hooklike snout.
2. Fish the market name of any of various other flatfishes resembling the sole.

-sole-, root. 

1. -sole- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "only;
   alone.'' This meaning is found in such words as: desolate, desolation, sole, soliloquy, solipsism, solitaire, solitary, solitude, solo.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sole¹  (sōl), adj. 

1. being the only one;
   only:
   the sole living relative.
2. being the only one of the kind;
   unique;
   unsurpassed;
   matchless:
   the sole brilliance of the gem.
3. belonging or pertaining to one individual or group to the exclusion of all others;
   exclusive:
   the sole right to the estate.
4. functioning automatically or with independent power:
   the sole authority.
5. Law [Chiefly Law.] unmarried.
6. without company or companions;
   lonely:
   the sole splendor of her life.
7. [Archaic.] alone.

• Latin sōlus
• Old French sol
• Latin sōlus alone; replacing Middle English soule alone
• 1350–1400

sole′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. solitary.
• 2. individual.

sole²  (sōl), n., v., soled, sol•ing. 
n. 

1. the bottom or under surface of the foot.
2. Clothing the corresponding under part of a shoe, boot, or the like, or this part exclusive of the heel.
3. the bottom, under surface, or lower part of anything.
4. Building [Carpentry.]
   • the underside of a plane.
   • soleplate.
5. Sport [Golf.] the part of the head of the club that touches the ground.

v.t. 

6. Clothing to furnish with a sole, as a shoe.
7. Sport [Golf.] to place the sole of (a club) on the ground, as in preparation for a stroke.

• Latin solea sandal, sole, derivative of solum base, bottom
• Old French
• Middle English (noun, nominal) 1275–1325

sole′less, adj. 

sole³  (sōl), n., pl. (esp. collectively) sole,  (esp. referring to two or more kinds or species) soles. 

1. Fish a European flatfish, Solea solea, used for food.
2. Fish any other flatfish of the families Soleidae and Cynoglossidae, having a hooklike snout.

• Vulgar Latin *sola (for Latin solea; see sole²), so called from its flat shape; compare Spanish suela, Italian soglia, Portuguese solha
• Old Provencal
• Middle French
• Middle English 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sole / səʊl/ adjective

1. (prenominal) being the only one; only
2. (prenominal) of or relating to one individual or group and no other: sole rights on a patent
3. having no wife or husband
4. an archaic word for solitary

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French soule, from Latin sōlus alone

ˈsoleness noun

sole / səʊl/ noun

1. the underside of the foot
2. the underside of a shoe
3. the bottom of a furrow
4. the bottom of a plough
5. the underside of a golf-club head

verb (transitive)

1. to provide (a shoe) with a sole

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin solea sandal; probably related to solum the ground

sole / səʊl/ noun (sole, soles)

1. any tongue-shaped flatfish of the family Soleidae, esp Solea solea (European sole): most common in warm seas and highly valued as food fishes

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Vulgar Latin sola (unattested), from Latin solea a sandal (from the fish's shape)