soul

[sohl]

noun

1. 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.

   Synonyms: spirit

2. 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.

3. the disembodied spirit of a deceased person.

   He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.

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

   Synonyms: heart

5. a human being; person.

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

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

   Synonyms: heart, core, essence

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

9. the embodiment of some quality.

   He was the very soul of tact.

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

11. shared ethnic awareness and pride among Black people, especially Black Americans.

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

13. soul music.

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or for Black Americans or their culture.

   soul newspapers.

soul

¹

/ səʊl /

noun

1. 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

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

3. the essential part or fundamental nature of anything

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

5. 1. Also called: soul music. a type of Black music resulting from the addition of jazz, gospel, and pop elements to the urban blues style

   2. ( as modifier )

      a soul singer

6. (modifier) of or relating to Black Americans and their culture

   soul brother

   soul food

7. nobility of spirit or temperament

   a man of great soul and courage

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

9. a person regarded as typifying some characteristic or quality

   the soul of discretion

10. a person; individual

    an honest soul

11. See life

12. an exclamation of surprise

Soul

²

/ səʊl /

noun

1. Christian Science another word for God

Other Word Forms

• soul-like adjective
• soullike adjective
• undersoul noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of soul¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of soul¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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

Example Sentences

Then there’s Sade’s “Young Lion,” a tolling piano ballad in which the famous soul singer asks her son to forgive her for not recognizing his gender identity earlier than she did.

From Los Angeles Times

Musically, you’ve been in a bit of a blue-eyed soul moment of late.

From Los Angeles Times

He also said he was Michael the Angel of Death, referencing the Archangel Michael, who is tasked with escorting souls to the afterlife, prosecutors said.

From Los Angeles Times

The culturally rich Black-majority city is also home to plenty of Black-owned restaurants, serving up everything from soul food, Burundian and Nigerian cuisines to sandwiches and steaks.

From Salon

And, bring back that old search for soul.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conscience 
• courage 
• ego 
• feeling 
• genius 
• heart 
• intellect 
• intelligence 
• life 
• mind 
• personality 
• spirit 
• stuff 
• thought 
• vitality