soak Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid)
soaking; soakage.
- a good soak put life back in the wagon
noun washing something by allowing it to soak
soaking.
verb submerge in a liquid
- I soaked in the hot tub for an hour
verb rip off; ask an unreasonable price
fleece; plume; pluck; hook; overcharge; rob; gazump; surcharge.
verb cover with liquid; pour liquid onto
drench; souse; sop; douse; dowse.
- souse water on his hot face
verb leave as a guarantee in return for money
pawn; hock.
- pawn your grandfather's gold watch
verb beat severely
verb make drunk (with alcoholic drinks)
intoxicate; inebriate.
verb become drunk or drink excessively
inebriate; souse; hit it up.
verb fill, soak, or imbue totally
imbue.
- soak the bandage with disinfectant
verb heat a metal prior to working it

OE. soken, AS. socian to sioak, steep, fr. scan, sgan, to suck. See Suck.

imperfect & past participle Soaked ; present participle & verbal noun Soaking

To cause or suffer to lie in a fluid till the substance has imbibed what it can contain; to macerate in water or other liquid; to steep, as for the purpose of softening or freshening; as, to soak cloth; to soak bread; to soak salt meat, salt fish, or the like.
To drench; to wet thoroughly.
Their land shall be soaked with blood. Isa. xxiv. 7.
To draw in by the pores, or through small passages; as, a sponge soaks up water; the skin soaks in moisture.
To make (its way) by entering pores or interstices; -- often with through.
The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow. Sir W. Scott.
Fig.: To absorb; to drain. Obs. Sir H. Wotton.

To lie steeping in water or other liquid; to become sturated; as, let the cloth lie and soak.
To enter (into something) by pores or interstices; as, water soaks into the earth or other porous matter.
To drink intemperately or gluttonously. Slang