so·le·cis·m /'solsizem||'saː-/ n tech or pomp a breaking of rules about what is proper, especially in grammar or social politeness
solely /'səʊl-li/ adv not including anything else or any others; only: I am concerned solely for your welfare. | I hold you solely responsible.
sol·emn /'soləm/ˈsaː-/ adj 1 [A] (of a promise) made with great seriousness and no intention of breaking it: Do you give me your solemn word/pledge that you won't go there? 2 serious; without humour or lightness; GRAVE: The judge looked solemn. | The signing of this treaty is a solemn moment in our nation's history. 3 of the grandest and most formal kind: The new ambassador was received with solemn ceremonies. ︷ly adv ︸ness n [U]
so·lem·ni·ty /sə'lemnʒti/ n 1 [U] the quality of being solemn; formality or seriousness: He took up the gavel, with mock solemnity. 2 [C usually pl.] a formal act or quality proper for a grand or solemn event: All the solemnities of the occasion were observed.
sol-em-nize also -nise BrE /'sɒlmənaɪzəl/ sɑː-/ v [T] fml or tech to perform (especially a marriage) with formal religious ceremony —-nization /,sɒlmənaɪˈzeɪʃənl/ sɑːlməna-/ n [U]
So-lent, the /'səʊlənt/ the narrow area of sea between the Isle of Wight and the south coast of England
sol-fa /,sol 'fa:ll,soul-/ n [U] the system which represents the notes of the musical SCALE by any of seven short words (DO, RE, MI, FA, SO, LA, and TI) especially for singing
so·li·cit /səˈlɪsɪt/ v 1 [lɪˈtʃ(rə)l] fml to ask for (money, help, a favour etc) from (a person): May I solicit your advice on a matter of some importance? 2 [l] especially law (especially of a woman) to offer oneself for sex in return for pay; advertise oneself as a PROSTITUTE: The police arrested her for soliciting. 3 [T] AmE to sell by taking orders for a product or service, especially by going to people's houses or places of business —ation /səˈlɪsɪˈteɪʃən/ n [C;U]
so-lic·i·tor /səˈlɪsɪtər/ n 1 (especially in England) a lawyer who gives advice, does the necessary work when property is bought and sold (CONVEYANCING), and speaks especially in the lower courts of law. In 1992 it was decided that solicitors could also argue cases in the higher courts, which formerly only BARRISTERS were able to do. → compare ADVOCATE, BARRISTER; see LAWYER (CULTURAL NOTE) 2 AmE a person whose job it is to SOLICIT 3 No Solicitors AmE (a sign to show that) people selling things are not welcome
so, licitor 'general n pl. solicitors general 1 (in Britain) a law officer next in rank below the ATTORNEY GENERAL in a government. The solicitor general is usually a member of the House of Commons and a BARRISTER not a solicitor. 2 (in the US) a state law officer who deals with cases involving the rights of the state and cases involving the interests of the public. They are next in rank below the state attorney generals.
soʻlic-i-tous /səˈlɪsətəs/ adj [(about, of, for)] fml 1 giving eager, kind, or helpful care: a solicitous employer 2 anxious; carefully interested: He seemed most solicitous for your welfare.
—~ly adv —~ness n [U]
so-lic-i-tude /səˈlɪsʃtjuːdˈl-tuːd/ n [U] fm/ anxious, kind, or eager care
sol-id¹ /'solʰdll'sɑː-/ adj 1 not needing a container to hold its shape; not liquid or gas: The milk in the bottles had frozen solid. 2 having an inside that is filled up; not hollow: Children's bicycles sometimes have solid rubber tyres. 3 made of close and tightly packed material; COMPACT: They dug down until they hit solid rock. 4 firm and well made: a very solid wall | This report you've written is a very solid piece of work. | There are solid reasons/grounds for believing that this is possible. 5 [A] completely of the stated substance, especially a metal or colour, and not mixed with others: This watch is solid gold. 6 tech of or having length, width, and height; THREE-DIMENSIONAL: A sphere is a solid figure. | Solid geometry is the study of lines, figures, angles etc, in space. 7 that may be depended on; SECURE: a solid supporter of the government | a solid base from which to attack the American market 8 [(for, against)] BrE in or showing complete agreement: The strike was 100 per cent solid. (=all the workers took part) | The members were solid against the idea. → see also SOLIDARITY 9 infml without spaces or breaks; continuous: I waited for three solid hours and then went home. | a solid line of people/cars ︷ly adv: We're solidly behind you; you have our complete support. ︸ness n [U]
solid² n 1 a solid object; something that does not flow: Water becomes a solid when it freezes. 2 [usually pl.] an article of non-liquid food: He's still too ill to take solids. 3 [usually pl.] the part of a liquid which has the qualities of a solid when separated from the SOLVENT: milk solids 4 tech (especially in GEOMETRY) an object that takes up space, having length, width, and height: A cube is a solid with six faces.
soli·dar·i·ty /,splə'dærəti|l|,sɑː-/ n [U(with)] loyal agreement of interests, aims, or principles among a group: The union leaders appealed for workers' solidarity.
Solidarity a TRADE UNION which was started in Poland in 1980 by Lech WALESA. Solidarity organized STRIKEs in order to force Poland's Communist government to make political and economic changes. For a time it was an illegal organization and many of its leaders were put in prison. By the late 1980s it had become very powerful, and in 1989 it became the leading party in the new government. Although it later lost political control of the country, Solidarity had an important influence on the ending of Communist power in Eastern Europe.
solid 'fuel n a substance that is burnt to produce heat or power that is solid, rather than a liquid or gas, e.g. coal
so·lid·i·fy /sə'lidʒfai/ v [l;T] to (cause to) become solid, hard, or firm: If you leave it in a cool place, the jelly will solidify. This new law has had the effect of solidifying opposition to the government. —-fication /sə,lɪdʒfə'keɪʃən/ n [U]
so·lid·i·ty /sə'lɪdʒi/ n [U] usually apprec the quality or state of being firm, not hollow, well made, dependable, or in agreement: The Victorians built their furniture with great solidity. Any doubts about the solidity of the pound will almost automatically decrease its value.
solid-state adj tech of, being, or having electrical parts, especially TRANSISTORS that run without heating or moving parts: a solid-state stereo system
sol-i-dus /'solədes||'saː-/ n pl. -di /daɪ/ an OBLIQUE
so-lil-o-quizé also -quise BrE /səˈlɪləkwaɪz/ v [l] to speak in soliloquy
so·lil·o·quy /səˈlɪləkwi/ n [C;U] (an act of) talking to oneself alone, especially a speech in a play in which a character's private thoughts are spoken to those watching the play → compare MONOLOGUE
sol·ip·sis·m /'svlʌpsizəm|'səu-, 'sɑː-/ n [U] tech a system of thought that admits only the self as something existing or knowable —-tic /,svlʌp'sistik↔ |,səu-, ,sɑː-/ adj
sol-i-taire /ˌsɒlˈtɜːr/ saː-/ n 1 [C] (a piece of jewellery having) a single jewel, especially a large and expensive diamond 2 [U] a game played by one person with small pieces of wood or plastic or balls on a board 3 [U] AmE for PATIENCE
soli·ta·ry¹ /'soli·teril'sa·li·teri/ adj 1 habitually alone, especially by choice: He's a solitary sort of fellow. | a solitary life 2 [A] especially lit alone without companions: a solitary bird on the lonely shore → see ALONE (USAGE) 3 in a lonely place; REMOTE: a solitary inn at the edge of the moors 4 [A; usually in questions and negatives] single: Can you give me one solitary piece of proof for what you say? ---ily /'soli·teril'sa·li·teri/ adv
solitary $ ^{2} $ n 1 [U] slang for SOLITARY CONFINEMENT 2 [C] lit a person who lives completely alone; HERMIT
'solitary con' finement n [in U] the keeping of a person in a closed place, especially inside a prison, without any chance of seeing or talking to others, usually as a form of additional punishment: sentenced to three months' solitary confinement
soli-tude /'soli-tju:d|'sa:l-tud/ n [U] fm/ the state of being alone away from companionship
so·lo¹ /'səʊləʊ/ n pl. -los 1 [C] a piece of music for one performer → compare DUET 2 [C] a job or performance, especially an aircraft flight, done by one person alone 3 [U] a card game like WHIST but in which each player plays against the others in turn without a partner
solo² adj. adv 1 without a companion or especially instructors: When did you first fly solo? 2 of, for, or played as a musical