Soak

Definition

The term "soak" generally refers to the act of immersing something in liquid for a period, allowing the liquid to be absorbed, or the process of becoming thoroughly wet.

Parts of Speech

• Verb
• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /soʊk/
• Respelling: SOKE (with "SOKE" rhyming with "poke" and "joke")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /səʊk/
• Respelling: SOKE (similar to American English, with "SOKE" rhyming with "poke" and "joke")

In both dialects, "soak" is pronounced with a long "o" sound, as in "poke" or "joke." The pronunciation of "soak" is consistent between American and British English, clearly reflecting the word's straightforward phonetic structure.

Etymology

The word "soak" originated from Old English socian which means "to soak, to lie in liquid." It's akin to the Old Norse soka and Middle Low German sōken, which have similar meanings.

Derivatives

• Soaker
• Soaking
• Soakage
• Unsoaked
• Oversoaked

Synonyms

• Drench
• Saturate
• Immerse

Antonyms

• Dry
• Dehydrate
• Drain

Usage

"Soak" is used in various contexts both literally and figuratively. Literally, it refers to the act of immersing something in liquid or the state of being immersed in liquid. Figuratively, it might be used to express the idea of thoroughly absorbing or being absorbed in a particular situation or condition.

Related Terms

• Absorb
• Submerge
• Marinate
• Douse
• Imbibe

Detailed Definition

Verb

• Immerse: To put something into liquid for a period of time, especially to clean, soften, or marinate.
• Example: She decided to soak the beans overnight to soften them for cooking.

• Absorb Liquid: To take in liquid, either by absorption or capillary attraction.
• Example: The sponge was able to soak up all the spilled milk.

• Become Wet: To become thoroughly wet by immersing in liquid.
• Example: His shoes were soaked after walking through the rain.

Noun

• Act of Soaking: The act or state of being soaked or saturated with a liquid.
• Example: A long soak in a hot bath always relaxes me.