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different colours) to choose from. | What sort of (a) man is he? (=What is he like)? | I don't like that sort of book/those sorts of book/ (infml) those sorts of books. ➔ see KIND (USAGE) 2 [C usually sing.] infml a person of the stated type: That was nice of her; she's not such a bad sort (=quite a nice person) after all. 3 a sort of (a) a faint, unexplained, or unusual kind of: I had a sort of (a) feeling you'd say that. | After the soup we had a sort of stew - I'm not sure what was in it. 4 it takes all sorts (to make a world) any society consists of people who vary greatly in their habits, characters, opinions etc 5 of sorts/a sort of a poor or doubtful kind: It's a painting of sorts, but hard to describe. 6 sort of infml in some way or degree; rather: It was sort of odd that he didn't come. | I was feeling sort of ... well ... ill, really. ➔ see KIND (USAGE) 7 out of sorts infml feeling unwell or annoyed 8 what sort of infml (used for asking angry questions): What sort of an excuse is that? (=I do not think it is a good one) | What sort of time do you call this to come in? (=I think it is very late)
sort² v 1 [I(t through);T (out)] to put (things) in order; place according to kind, rank etc; arrange: I've been sorting (through) these old papers to see what can be thrown away. | She got a job sorting letters in the Post Office. | They sorted the apples according to size/into large ones and small ones. 2 [T] especially ScotE to mend; repair: We need to get the washing machine sorted. ---er n
sort sbdy/sthg. ⇔ out phr v [T] 1 [(from)] to separate from a mass or group: Sort out the papers to be thrown away, and put the rest back. | a preliminary audition to sort out the talented performers from the rest 2 BrE to deal with; make clear: It was just a silly quarrel that's now been sorted out. | Have you sorted out how to get there yet? ➔ see also SORT-OUT 3 to make (a person) less confused or unsettled: She was depressed when I went round, but I sorted her out. | Take these pills - they'll sort you out. (=make you better) 4 BrE infml to attack and punish: Let me get my hands on them! I'll sort them out!
sort-ed /'sɔːtɪd||'sɔːr-/ adj [F] BrE infml 1 properly arranged or planned: Good, that's the accommodation sorted. | Calm down. It's all sorted. | I just want to get everything sorted before I go away. 2 provided with the things that you want: 'Can I get you anything?' 'We're sorted, thanks.'
sor-tie /'sɔːtiɪ||'sɔːrti:/ n 1 a short attack made by an army from a position of defence 2 a flight to bomb an enemy base, city etc 3 infml a short trip into an unfamiliar or unfriendly place: (fig.) His first sortie into the world of film-making wasn't very successful.
'sorting office n a part of a POST OFFICE where letters are separated into different groups according to where they are being sent to
'sort-out n [usually sing.] BrE infml an act of putting things in order: This room's very untidy; it needs a good sort-out. ➔ see also SORT OUT
SOS /ˌes əʊ 'es/ n [S] 1 used as a signal calling for help by a ship or a plane that is in danger 2 an urgent message that someone is in trouble and needs help: This is an SOS for a Mr. Tucker, whose mother is seriously ill. ➔ compare MAYDAY
'so-so adj, adv infml neither very bad(ly) nor very good/well: Business is only so-so at the moment. | 'How's the work going?' 'So-so.'
So 'Solid ,Crew a British GARAGE band whose music is a mixture of HIP HOP, R and B, and RAGGA. Their songs include 21 Seconds, They Don't Know, and Haterz.
sot /sɒt||sɑːt/ n especially lit a person who is habitually drunk and unable to think clearly
Soth-e-by's /'sʌðəbi:z/ a famous AUCTION HOUSE with its main offices in New York and London, where valuable paintings, rare books etc are sold ➔ compare CHRISTIE'S
sot-tish /'sɒtʃ||'sɑː-/ adj especially lit stupid, like a sot ---ness n [U]
sot-to vo-ce /ˌstəʊ 'vəʊtʃi||ˌsɑː-/ adj, adv fml in a soft voice so that other people cannot hear: They were passing sotto voce remarks while he gave his talk.
sou /su:/ n [S usually in negatives] BrE infml the smallest amount of money: I had to pay £10 for the taxi and it left me without a sou.
sou-bri-quet /'su:brikeɪ/ n a SOBRIQUET
souf-flé /'su:fleɪ||su:'fleɪ/ n [C;U] a light airy dish made from eggs, flour, milk, and usually cheese, fruit, or some other food to give taste, baked to be eaten at once
sound
sough /sʌf, saʊ/ v, n [I] lit (to make) the sound of the wind in trees
sought /sɔːt/ past tense & participle of SEEK
'sought-af-ter adj wanted or popular because of rarity or high quality: He's one of the world's most sought-after singers.
souk /suːk/ n a market in a Muslim country
soul¹ /səʊl/ n 1 [C] the part of a person that is not the body and is thought not to die; the central or most important part of a person; the quality that makes a person human: They say that hardship is good for the soul. (=makes you a better person) ➔ compare SPIRIT 2 [U] the attractive quality produced by honesty or true deep feeling: It was a stylish performance but lacking in soul. | You don't care if they cut down that beautiful old tree. You've got no soul! ➔ see also SOULFUL, SOULESS 3 [C] especially lit or old-fash a person: You mustn't tell a (living) soul. | She's a dear old soul. | He's had a lot of troubles to put up with, (the) poor soul! 4 [C(of)] a central, most important or most active part: He tells such good jokes, he's the life and soul of any party. (=makes any party full of fun) 5 [the S+of] the perfect example: Your secret's safe with him; he's the soul of discretion. 6 [U] SOUL MUSIC: the sound of soul | a soul group 7 upon my soul! old-fash (used for expressing great surprise or shock) ➔ see also keep body and soul together (BODY), heart and soul (HEART), sell one's soul (SELL)
soul² adj [A] AmE of or for African Americans: soul food | soul music
'soul ,brother, 'soul ,sister fem.— n AmE (used especially among young African Americans) an African American
'soul-des,troying adj derog (especially of a job) very uninteresting: It's soul-destroying work.
'soul food n [U] AmE food that is popular with African-American people in the Southern US
soul-ful /'səʊlfl/ adj full of feeling; expressing deep feeling: a soulful look/song ---ly adv ---ness n [U]
soul-less /'səʊl-ləs/ adj derog having or showing no attractive or tender human qualities: a big soulless office building ---ly adv ---ness n [U]
'soul mate n a person with whom one feels one shares a very close feeling or interest: We'd only known each other for a few hours, but I felt we were soul mates.
'soul ,music n [U] popular music usually performed by black singers and showing feelings strongly and directly. It began in America and is closely related to RHYTHM AND BLUES. There have been many famous singers in soul music, but the most famous is probably James Brown who is known as 'the godfather of soul' ➔ see also James BROWN, MOTOWN
'soul-,searching n [U] a deep examination of one's mind and conscience: After many hours of soul-searching he decided to admit his guilt.
sound¹ /saʊnd/ n 1 [C;U] what is or may be heard; (something that causes) a sensation in the ear: Strange sounds came from the next room. | I could hear the sound of voices/laughter/footsteps. | Don't make a sound, any of you. (=keep quiet) | There are over twenty different consonant sounds in English. | Sound travels/Sound waves travel at 340 metres per second in air. | a muffled/clear sound | a wailing sound ➔ see NOISE (USAGE) 2 [(the)Sof] an idea produced by something read or heard: From the sound of it, I'd say the matter was serious. | I don't like the sound of this; how long has she been missing? 3 [U] a) things broadcast or played from a recording machine for listening to rather than for seeing: There is interference on vision, and for the moment we are continuing our programme on sound only. | a sound recording b) loudness of a television, film etc: I can't hear what they're saying; turn the sound up. 4 a sound mind in a sound body the state of somebody who is physically and mentally healthy (from the Latin phrase mens sana in corpore sano) 5 full of sound and fury, signifying nothing quote a phrase from SHAKESPEARE's play MACBETH used by people in criticizing something which sounds impressive or threatening, but which has little meaning or is not important: Jim sometimes flies off the handle and has these tantrums -- full of sound and fury, signifying nothing! ---less adj ---lessly adv: He crept soundlessly into the room.