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Soiling: meaning, definitions and examples

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soiling

 

[ ˈsɔɪlɪŋ ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

making dirty

Soiling refers to the act of making something dirty or unclean, particularly by adding dirt or contaminants. It is often used in contexts related to the environment, cleanliness, or contamination.

Synonyms

contaminating, dirtifying, staining.

Examples of usage

  • The children were soiling their clothes in the mud.
  • The pollution from the factory is soiling the nearby river.
  • He regretfully noticed that his shoes were soiling the pristine floor.
Context #2 | Noun

contamination

Soiling, as a noun, describes the state of being soiled or dirty. It often refers to the presence of dirt, stains, or unwanted substances on a surface.

Synonyms

contamination, dirt, stain.

Examples of usage

  • The soiling of the documents made them unreadable.
  • The soiling of the environment is a significant concern.
  • They noted the soiling of the artwork in the gallery.

Translations

Translations of the word "soiling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 contaminação

🇮🇳 मिट्टी लगाना

🇩🇪 Verschmutzung

🇮🇩 pencemaran

🇺🇦 забруднення

🇵🇱 zanieczyszczenie

🇯🇵 汚染

🇫🇷 pollution

🇪🇸 contaminación

🇹🇷 kirlilik

🇰🇷 오염

🇸🇦 تلوث

🇨🇿 znečištění

🇸🇰 znečistenie

🇨🇳 污染

🇸🇮 onesnaženje

🇮🇸 mengun

🇰🇿 ластану

🇬🇪 საძნელება

🇦🇿 çirklənmə

🇲🇽 contaminación

Etymology

The word 'soiling' stems from the Old English 'soile,' which means 'dirt, filth, or soil'. This term evolved over centuries and was influenced by various languages, notably Latin and French. The transformation from 'soile' to 'soiling' illustrates the transition from a noun to a verb form reflecting the action of making dirty. In contemporary usage, 'soiling' is often related to environmental discussions, indicating not just physical dirt but also metaphorical dirt, such as moral corruption or degradation. As society has grown increasingly aware of cleanliness and environmental issues, the term has found relevance in debates about pollution and its impact on health and nature.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,201, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.