so|cial ne t|work|ing N‑UNCOUNT Social networking is the activity of using a particular website to contact other people and share information. □ Social networking is part of everyday life, both for consumer and business-to-business applications. □ …a social networking site.
so |cial o r|der (social orders ) N‑VAR The social order in a place is the way that society is organized there. □ …the threat to social order posed by right-wing extremists.
so |cial sci |ence (social sciences )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Social science is the scientific study of society.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The social sciences are the various types of social science, for example sociology and politics.
so |cial sci |en|tist (social scientists ) N‑COUNT A social scientist is a person who studies or teaches social science.
so |cial se|cu |rity N‑UNCOUNT Social security is a system under which a government pays money regularly to certain groups of people, for example the sick, the unemployed, or those with no other income. □ …women who did not have jobs and were on social security.
so |cial se r|vices N‑PLURAL The social services in a district are the services provided by the local authority or government to help people who have serious family or financial problems. □ I have asked the social services for help, but they have not done anything.
so |cial stu d|ies
1 N‑UNCOUNT In Britain, social studies is a subject that is taught in schools and colleges, and includes sociology, politics, and economics.
2 N‑UNCOUNT In the United States, social studies is a subject that is taught in schools, and that includes history, geography, sociology, and politics.
so |cial work N‑UNCOUNT Social work is work which involves giving help and advice to people with serious family problems or financial problems.
so |cial work|er (social workers ) N‑COUNT A social worker is a person whose job is to do social work.
so|ci|etal /səsa I I t ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Societal means relating to society or to the way society is organized. [FORMAL ] □ …societal changes □ …societal norms.
so|ci|ety ◆◆◆ /səsa I I ti/ (societies )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Society is people in general, thought of as a large organized group. □ This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society. □ He maintains Islam must adapt to modern society.
2 N‑VAR A society is the people who live in a country or region, their organizations, and their way of life. □ We live in a capitalist society.
3 N‑COUNT A society is an organization for people who have the same interest or aim. □ …the North of England Horticultural Society. □ …the historical society.
4 N‑UNCOUNT [oft N n] Society is the rich, fashionable people in a particular place who meet on social occasions. □ …the high season for society weddings.
5 → see also building society
PREFIX socio-
is used to form adjectives and nouns which describe or refer to things relating to or involving social factors. For example, someone's socioeconomic background relates to the social aspects of the family or culture they come from.
so cio-econo mic also socioeconomic ADJ [ADJ n] Socio-economic circumstances or developments involve a combination of social and economic factors. □ Suicide is often connected with socio-economic deprivation.
so|ci|ol|ogy /soʊ siɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Sociology is the study of society or of the way society is organized. ● so|cio|logi|cal /soʊ siəlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ Psychological and sociological studies were emphasizing the importance of the family. ● so|ci|olo|gist (sociologists ) N‑COUNT □ All sociologists are engaged in an attempt to understand the links across and within societies.
so|cio|path /soʊ siəpæθ/ (sociopaths ) N‑COUNT A sociopath is the same as a psychopath .
so cio-poli tical also sociopolitical ADJ [ADJ n] Socio-political systems and problems involve a combination of social and political factors. □ …sociopolitical issues such as ecology and human rights.
sock /sɒ k/ (socks ) N‑COUNT Socks are pieces of clothing which cover your foot and ankle and are worn inside shoes. □ …a pair of knee-length socks.
sock|et /sɒ k I t/ (sockets )
1 N‑COUNT A socket is a device on a piece of electrical equipment into which you can put a bulb or plug.
2 N‑COUNT A socket is a device or point in a wall where you can connect electrical equipment to the power supply. [BRIT ] in AM, use outlet 3 N‑COUNT You can refer to any hollow part or opening in a structure which another part fits into as a socket . □ Her eyes were sunk deep into their sockets.
sod /sɒ d/ (sods )
1 N‑COUNT If someone calls another person or something such as a job a sod , they are expressing anger or annoyance towards that person or thing. [BRIT , INFORMAL , RUDE , DISAPPROVAL ]
2 EXCLAM If someone uses an expression such as sod it , sod you , or sod that , they are expressing anger or showing that they do not care about something. [BRIT , INFORMAL , RUDE , FEELINGS ]
3 PHRASE Sod all means 'nothing at all'. [BRIT , INFORMAL , RUDE , EMPHASIS ]
4 PHRASE Sod's Law or sod's law is the idea that if something can go wrong, it will go wrong. [BRIT , INFORMAL ]
▸ sod off PHRASAL VERB If someone tells someone else to sod off , they are telling them in a very rude way to go away or leave them alone. [BRIT , INFORMAL , RUDE ]