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.
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.
the disembodied spirit of a deceased person: He feared the soul of the deceased would haunt him.
the emotional part of human nature; the seat of the feelings or sentiments.
a human being; person.
high-mindedness; noble warmth of feeling, spirit or courage, etc.
the animating principle; the essential element or part of something.
the inspirer or moving spirit of some action, movement, etc.
the embodiment of some quality: He was the very soul of tact.
(initial capital letter)Christian Science. God; the divine source of all identity and individuality.
shared ethnic awareness and pride among Black people, especially Black Americans.
deeply felt emotion, as conveyed or expressed by a performer or artist.
soul music.
adjective
of, characteristic of, or for Black Americans or their culture: soul newspapers.
Origin of soul
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sāwl, sāwol; cognate with Dutch ziel, German Seele, Old Norse sāl, Gothic saiwala
The Senate likes to call itself “the world’s greatest deliberative body,” and the filibuster, at least in myth, is the soul of that deliberation.
The definitive case for ending the filibuster|Ezra Klein|October 1, 2020|Vox
Likewise, when celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, of Ethiopian and Swedish descent, opened soul food restaurant Red Rooster in Harlem, New York, in 2010, some criticized it for contributing to gentrification by catering to outsiders.
The Stages of Gentrification, as Told by Restaurant Openings|Vince Dixon|September 30, 2020|Eater
All the same, Stone Locals is a compelling depiction of the soul of the sport.
3 New Documentaries to Stream This Fall|Erin Berger|September 21, 2020|Outside Online
As a Belarusian citizen, my heart hurts, and my soul is tired.
A Proud Belarusian’s Heartbreak|Tracy Moran|August 18, 2020|Ozy
We started with a major open space idea as we sculpted our plan, and it has now rightfully emerged as the soul of the project.
Public Benefits Define Midway Proposal|Frank Wolden, Aruna Doddapaneni and Colin Parent|July 21, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Education controls the transmission of values and molds the spirit before dominating the soul.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
You mix up English working-class gruffness with African-American soul from the Deep South.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker|Ted Gioia|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Perhaps every reproduction of a piece of art steals a part of its soul.
Tim Burton Talks ‘Big Eyes,’ His Taste For the Macabre, and the ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel|Marlow Stern|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Alas, his soul is willing, but his flesh is weak and he whiffs.
After Torture Report, Our Moral Authority As a Nation Is Gone|Nick Gillespie|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suppressed, banned, scorned—it seems to speak to something within the human mind (or soul, if you like) that is irrepressible.
Meet Krampus, the Seriously Bad Santa|Jay Michaelson|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His stomach was empty—which he knew, and his soul was empty—which he did not know.
A Rainy June and Other Stories|Ouida
Great activity and worry is needless—it is poison to the soul.
Shandygaff|Christopher Morley
She also beheld Jove sitting upon the highest top of many-rilled Ida, and he was hateful to her soul.
The Iliad of Homer (1873)|Homer
Elizabeth had loved Edward, would she not go with Mary to hear a mass for the repose of his soul?
In the Days of Queen Elizabeth|Eva March Tappan
Suppose now she stood before him, wonder-eyes raised, seeking his soul's truth; hands resting in his until he should speak.
Joyce of the North Woods|Harriet T. Comstock
British Dictionary definitions for soul (1 of 2)
soul
/ (səʊl) /
noun
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 deathRelated adjective: pneumatic
Christianitythe spiritual part of a person, capable of redemption from the power of sin through divine grace
the essential part or fundamental nature of anything
a person's feelings or moral nature as distinct from other faculties
Also called: soul musica type of Black music resulting from the addition of jazz, gospel, and pop elements to the urban blues style
(as modifier)a soul singer
(modifier)of or relating to Black Americans and their culturesoul brother; soul food
nobility of spirit or temperamenta man of great soul and courage
an inspiring spirit or leading figure, as of a cause or movement
a person regarded as typifying some characteristic or qualitythe soul of discretion
a person; individualan honest soul
the life and soul See life (def. 28)
upon my soul!an exclamation of surprise
Derived forms of soul
soul-like, adjective
Word Origin for soul
Old English sāwol; related to Old Frisian sēle, Old Saxon sēola, Old High German sēula soul