soiling

soil ¹  (soil)

n.

1. The top layer of the earth's surface, consisting of rock and mineral particles mixed with organic matter.

2. A particular kind of earth or ground: sandy soil.

3. Country; land: native soil.

4. The agricultural life: a man of the soil.

5. A place or condition favorable to growth; a breeding ground.

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[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, a piece of ground (influenced in meaning by Latin solum, soil), from Latin solium, seat; see sed- in Indo-European roots.]

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soil ²  (soil)

v. soiled, soil·ing, soils

v.tr.

1. To make dirty, particularly on the surface.

2. To disgrace; tarnish: a reputation soiled by scandal.

3. To corrupt; defile.

4. To dirty with excrement.

v.intr.

To become dirty, stained, or tarnished.

n.

1.

a. The state of being soiled.

b. A stain.

2. Filth, sewage, or refuse.

3. Manure, especially human excrement, used as fertilizer.

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[Middle English soilen, from Old French souiller, from Vulgar Latin *suculre (from Late Latin suculus, diminutive of Latin ss, pig; see s- in Indo-European roots) or from souil, pigsty, wallow (from Latin solium, seat; see soil¹).]

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soil ³  (soil)

tr.v. soiled, soil·ing, soils

1. To feed (livestock) with soilage.

2. To purge (livestock) by feeding with green food.

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[Origin unknown.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

soiling - the act of soiling something dirtying, soilure change of state - the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics spotting, staining, maculation - the act of spotting or staining something contamination, pollution - the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors