soil
gb/sˈɔɪl/ us/sˈɔɪl/
A2
English
~ 2000
talaj, föld, összekoszol, bepiszkít
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] grows in [soil]
The farmer tested the soil before planting the seeds.
A gazda megvizsgálta a talajt, mielőtt elvetette a magokat.
Heavy rain can wash away valuable topsoil.
A heves eső lemoshatja az értékes termőtalajt.
This region has rich soil that produces excellent crops.
Soil erosion is a major environmental problem.
We added compost to improve the soil quality.
Learner examples
Plants grow in soil.
A növények a talajban nőnek.
The farmer works in the soil.
A gazda a földet műveli.
Good soil helps flowers grow.
The soil is wet after rain.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'soil' with 'ground'. 'Ground' means the solid surface of the earth in general, while 'soil' is specifically the material plants grow in.
Meaning
Top layer of earth for plants
Collocations
fertile soil
|rich soil
|soil erosion
|soil quality
|soil moisture
Synonyms
earth (Commonly used in the same sense but slightly broader, can also mean the planet or ground in general.)
|
dirt (More informal and often used for loose soil, sometimes with a negative connotation.)
Antonyms
rock (Rock is hard and solid, not loose and able to support plant growth like soil.)
Themes
nature
|agriculture
|environment
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The top part of the ground where plants grow.
The upper layer of earth in which plants grow, consisting of a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms.
VERB
B1
2
összekoszol
A2
bepiszkít
B1
Usage pattern:
to soil [something]
He soiled his shirt while working in the garden.
Összekoszolta az ingét, miközben a kertben dolgozott.
The baby's diaper was soiled and needed changing.
A baba pelenkája piszkos volt, és ki kellett cserélni.
Construction workers often soil their boots with mud.
Learner examples
I soiled my shoes in the rain.
Összekoszoltam a cipőmet az esőben.
The baby soiled his pants.
A baba bepiszkított a nadrágjába.
She soiled her dress with coffee.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'soil' as a verb with 'spoil'. 'Spoil' means to ruin or damage, not necessarily by making dirty.
Meaning
Make dirty or stained
Collocations
soil clothes
|soil hands
|soil reputation
Synonyms
dirty (General term for making something unclean; 'soil' can sound slightly more formal or specific.)
|
stain (Implies leaving a mark that may be hard to remove; 'soil' is broader.)
Antonyms
clean (To remove dirt or stains, the opposite of soiling.)
Themes
daily life
|cleaning
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make something dirty.
To make something dirty, especially with a substance like mud, dust, or waste.
NOUN
B2
LITERARY
3
föld
B2
Usage pattern:
on [country's] soil
The treaty was signed on French soil.
A szerződést francia földön írták alá.
They vowed to defend their homeland's soil against invaders.
Megfogadták, hogy megvédik hazájuk földjét a betolakodóktól.
He was proud to stand on his native soil again.
Learner examples
I was born on this soil.
Ezen a földön születtem.
They came to our soil to work.
A földünkre jöttek dolgozni.
The flag stands on our soil.
Meaning
Land of a country or region
Collocations
foreign soil
|national soil
|enemy soil
Synonyms
territory (More formal and legal term for an area of land under control of a country.)
Antonyms
sea (Represents the opposite physical environment to land or soil.)
Themes
geography
|politics
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Land that belongs to a country or region.
Land regarded as belonging to or characteristic of a particular nation, region, or place.
Grammar
Dictionary form
soil
IPA
GB/sˈɔɪl/
US/sˈɔɪl/
Syllables & stress
soil (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (soil)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: soil
- Plural: soil, soils
Verb
- Base: soil
- 3rd Person Singular: soils
- Present Participle: soiling
- Past: soiled
Word family
Expressions
on foreign soil
1/ˈɔn fˈɔɹən sˈɔɪl/
fixed phrase
In another country
In a country that is not your own.
Examples
- The soldiers fought bravely on foreign soil.
- They spent two years living on foreign soil.
on home soil
1/ˈɔn hˈoʊm sˈɔɪl/
fixed phrase
In one's own country
In your own country or place where you live.
Examples
- The team was happy to win on home soil.
- It was their first victory on home soil in years.
break new ground
1/bɹˈeɪk njˈu ɡɹˈaʊnd/
idiom
do something innovative first time
To do something new and different that no one has done before.
Examples
- The research breaks new ground in cancer treatment.
- The scientist broke new ground in cancer research.
- She broke new ground in modern dance.
- Their latest album breaks new ground in jazz music.