\Sol"id\, a. [L. solidus, probably akin to sollus whole,
entire, Gr. ???: cf. F. solide. Cf. {Consolidate},{Soda},
{Solder}, {Soldier}, {Solemn}.]
1. Having the constituent parts so compact, or so firmly
   adhering, as to resist the impression or penetration of
   other bodies; having a fixed form; hard; firm; compact; --
   opposed to {fluid} and {liquid} or to {plastic}, like
   clay, or to {incompact}, like sand.
2. Not hollow; full of matter; as, a solid globe or cone, as
   distinguished from a {hollow} one; not spongy; dense;
   hence, sometimes, heavy.
3. (Arith.) Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic; as,
   a solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.
Note: In this sense, cubics now generally used.
4. Firm; compact; strong; stable; unyielding; as, a solid
   pier; a solid pile; a solid wall.
5. Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united
   and form an unbroken word; -- opposed to {hyphened}.
6. Fig.: Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial, as
   opposed to {frivolous} or {fallacious}; weighty; firm;
   strong; valid; just; genuine.
         The solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer.
                                               --Milton.
         These, wanting wit, affect gravity, and go by the
         name of solid men.                    --Dryden.
         The genius of the Italians wrought by solid toil
         what the myth-making imagination of the Germans had
         projected in a poem.                  --J. A.
                                               Symonds.
7. Sound; not weakly; as, a solid constitution of body. --I.
   Watts.
8. (Bot.) Of a fleshy, uniform, undivided substance, as a
   bulb or root; not spongy or hollow within, as a stem.
9. (Metaph.) Impenetrable; resisting or excluding any other
   material particle or atom from any given portion of space;
   -- applied to the supposed ultimate particles of matter.
10. (Print.) Not having the lines separated by leads; not
    open.
11. United; without division; unanimous; as, the delegation
    is solid for a candidate. [Polit. Cant. U.S.]
{Solid angle}. (Geom.) See under {Angle}.
{Solid color}, an even color; one not shaded or variegated.
{Solid green}. See {Emerald green}
    (a), under {Green}.
{Solid measure} (Arith.), a measure for volumes, in which the
   units are each a cube of fixed linear magnitude, as a
   cubic foot, yard, or the like; thus, a foot, in solid
   measure, or a solid foot, contains 1,728 solid inches.
{Solid newel} (Arch.), a newel into which the ends of winding
   stairs are built, in distinction from a hollow newel. See
   under {Hollow}, a.
{Solid problem} (Geom.), a problem which can be construed
   geometrically, only by the intersection of a circle and a
   conic section or of two conic sections. --Hutton.
{Solid square} (Mil.), a square body or troops in which the
   ranks and files are equal.
Syn: Hard; firm; compact; strong; substantial; stable; sound;
     real; valid; true; just; weighty; profound; grave;
     important.
Usage: {Solid}, {Hard}. These words both relate to the
       internal constitution of bodies; but hardnotes a more
       impenetrable nature or a firmer adherence of the
       component parts than solid. Hard is opposed to soft,
       and solid to fluid, liquid, open, or hollow. Wood is
       usually solid; but some kinds of wood are hard, and
       others are soft.
             Repose you there; while I [return] to this hard
             house, More harder than the stones whereof 't is
             raised.                           --Shak.
             I hear his thundering voice resound, And
             trampling feet than shake the solid ground.
                                               --Dryden.

\Sol"id\, n.
1. A substance that is held in a fixed form by cohesion among
   its particles; a substance not fluid.
2. (Geom.) A magnitude which has length, breadth, and
   thickness; a part of space bounded on all sides.
{Solid of revolution}. (Geom.) See {Revolution}, n., 5.