1. [n]  material in the top layer of the surface of the earth in which plants can grow (especially with reference to its quality or use); "the land had never been plowed"; "good agricultural soil"
2. [n]  the state of being covered with unclean things
3. [n]  the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock
4. [v]  make soiled, filthy, or dirty; "don't soil your clothes when you play outside!"

Soil
A simple presentation of information about soil, including its composition, properties, and some of its uses.

more details ...

1. \Soil\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Soiled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Soiling}.] [OF. saoler, saouler, to satiate, F. so[^u]ler,
   L. satullare, fr. satullus, dim. of satur sated. See
   {Satire}.]
   To feed, as cattle or horses, in the barn or an inclosure,
   with fresh grass or green food cut for them, instead of
   sending them out to pasture; hence (such food having the
   effect of purging them), to purge by feeding on green food;
   as, to soil a horse.
   

2. \Soil\, n. [OE. soile, F. sol, fr. L. solum bottom, soil;
   but the word has probably been influenced in form by soil a
   miry place. Cf. {Saloon}, {Soil} a miry place, {Sole} of the
   foot.]
   1. The upper stratum of the earth; the mold, or that compound
      substance which furnishes nutriment to plants, or which is
      particularly adapted to support and nourish them.
   2. Land; country.
            Must I thus leave thee, Paradise? thus leave Thee,
            native soil?                          --Milton.
   3. Dung; f[ae]ces; compost; manure; as, night soil.
            Improve land by dung and other sort of soils.
                                                  --Mortimer.
   {Soil pipe}, a pipe or drain for carrying off night soil.
   

3. \Soil\, v. t.
   To enrich with soil or muck; to manure.
         Men . . . soil their ground, not that they love the
         dirt, but that they expect a crop.       --South.
   

4. \Soil\, n. [OF. soil, souil, F. souille, from OF. soillier,
   F. souiller. See {Soil} to make dirty.]
   A marshy or miry place to which a hunted boar resorts for
   refuge; hence, a wet place, stream, or tract of water, sought
   for by other game, as deer.
         As deer, being stuck, fly through many soils, Yet still
         the shaft sticks fast.                   --Marston.
   {To take soil}, to run into the mire or water; hence, to take
      refuge or shelter.
            O, sir, have you taken soil here? It is well a man
            may reach you after three hours' running. --B.
                                                  Jonson.
   

5. \Soil\, v. t.[OE. soilen, OF. soillier, F. souiller,
   (assumed) LL. suculare, fr. L. sucula a little pig, dim. of
   sus a swine. See {Sow}, n.]
   1. To make dirty or unclean on the surface; to foul; to
      dirty; to defile; as, to soil a garment with dust.
            Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained.
                                                  --Milton.
   2. To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish;
      to sully. --Shak.
   Syn: To foul; dirt; dirty; begrime; bemire; bespatter;
        besmear; daub; bedaub; stain; tarnish; sully; defile;
        pollute.
   

6. \Soil\, v. i.
   To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark
   ones.
   

7. \Soil\, n. [See {Soil} to make dirty, {Soil} a miry place.]
   That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain.
         A lady's honor . . . will not bear a soil. --Dryden.