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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Sole: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：only (sole)

sole 🔊

/səʊl/

adj.

being the only one of its kind; single

only 🔊

➕

/ˈəʊnli/

adj.

Describes something that is the only one, with no others existing or involved.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'solus' (alone). The basic meaning of 'only' or 'single' is directly retained.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'SOLE' as 'SOLEly ONE' – the only one.

📖 Example

After the storm, the lighthouse keeper was the sole person living on the island. 🔊 The lighthouse keeper was the only person remaining on the island after the storm.

🔗 Collocations

sole survivor – the only person or thing that remains alive or exists after an event

sole purpose – the only reason for something's existence or for an action

sole responsibility – complete and exclusive accountability for something

🔄 Synonyms

only (adj.) – having no partner or equal; single or solitary.

single (adj.) – one only; not double or multiple, or not accompanied by others.

exclusive (adj.) – restricted or limited to the person, group, or area concerned.

🚫 Antonyms

multiple (adj.) – having or involving several parts, elements, or members.

shared (adj.) – used, possessed, or done by two or more people jointly.

🌱 Derivatives

solely (adv.) – not involving anyone or anything else; only.

📖 Cultural Story

The word entered English via Old French 'soul' from Latin 'solus', meaning 'alone'. Its initial meaning was 'the only one'. By the 14th century, it also came to refer to the 'bottom of a foot or shoe', likely because it is the single part that contacts the ground.

Meaning 2：relating to the bottom of the foot/shoe (sole)

sole 🔊

/səʊl/

adj.

relating to the bottom part of a foot or a shoe

Sole of shoe diagram: close-up view showing the textured rubber bottom.

relating to the bottom of the foot/shoe 🔊

➕

/rɪˈleɪtɪŋ tə ðə ˈbɒtəm əv ðə fʊt/ʃuː/

adj.

Pertaining to the underside of the human foot or the corresponding part of a shoe or boot.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

He walked barefoot on the hot sand, feeling the heat through the sole of his feet. 🔊 He felt the heat of the sand directly on the bottom of his feet while walking barefoot.

🔗 Collocations

sole of the foot – the underside of the foot

shoe sole – the bottom part of a shoe

rubber sole – a shoe bottom made of rubber for grip and durability

🔄 Synonyms

underside (n.) – the bottom or lower side of something.

bottom (n.) – the lowest point or part of something.