soak

soak [sōk]

vt.

[ME soken < OE socian < base of sucan: see SUCK]

1. to make thoroughly wet; drench or saturate [soaked to the skin by the rain]

2. to submerge or keep in a liquid, as for thorough wetting, softening, for hydrotherapy, etc.

3.

a) to take in (liquid) by sucking or absorbing: usually with up

b) to absorb by exposure to it [to soak up sunshine]

c) to take in mentally, esp. with little effort [to soak up knowledge]

d) to immerse (oneself) in some study or branch of learning

☆ 4. Informal to charge heavily or too dearly; overcharge

☆ 5. Slang to give a heavy blow to

vi.

1. to stay immersed in water or other liquid for wetting, softening, etc.

2. to pass or penetrate as a liquid does; permeate [rain soaking through his coat]

3. to become absorbed mentally [the fact soaked into his head]

n.

1. the act or process of soaking

2. the state of being soaked

3. liquid used for soaking or steeping

4. Slang a drunkard

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soak out

to draw out (dirt, etc.) by or as by soaking

SYN.- SOAK implies immersion in a liquid, etc. as for the purpose of absorption, thorough wetting, softening, etc. [to soak bread in milk ]; SATURATE implies absorption to a point where no more can be taken up [air saturated with moisture ]; DRENCH implies a thorough wetting as by a downpour [a garden drenched by the rain ]; STEEP¹ usually suggests soaking for the purpose of extracting the essence of something [to steep tea ]; IMPREGNATE implies the penetration and permeation of one thing by another [wood impregnated with creosote ]