Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
soil
/sɔɪl/
As a noun, the word describes more than just 'dirt'. It implies a biological productivity and life-sustaining quality. While 'dirt' is often something to be cleaned away, 'soil' is viewed as a resource or a foundation for growth. As a verb, it carries a sense of contamination or loss of purity. In a general sense, it refers to stains or mud, but in a specific clinical or caregiving context, it is the standard polite term for accidents involving bodily waste. Compared to 'dirty' (the adjective), 'soil' as a verb suggests a more permanent or significant mark that requires active cleaning.
Uncountable when referring to the general substance in a garden or field ('The soil is dry'). Countable when discussing different geological types or specific samples of earth ('Comparing the soils of various regions').