4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A solid object or mass does not have a space inside it, or holes or gaps in it. □ …a tunnel carved through 50ft of solid rock. □ …a solid mass of colour. □ The car park was absolutely packed solid with people.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] If an object is made of solid gold or solid wood, for example, it is made of gold or wood all the way through, rather than just on the outside. □ …solid wood doors. □ …solid pine furniture.
6 ADJ A structure that is solid is strong and is not likely to collapse or fall over. □ Banks are built to look solid to reassure their customers. □ The car feels very solid. ● sol|id|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Their house, which was solidly built, resisted the main shock. ● so|lid|ity /səl I d I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the solidity of walls and floors.
7 ADJ If you describe someone as solid , you mean that they are very reliable and respectable. [APPROVAL ] □ Mr Zuma had a solid reputation as a grass roots organiser. ● sol|id|ly ADV □ Graham is so solidly consistent. ● so|lid|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ He had the proverbial solidity of the English.
8 ADJ Solid evidence or information is reliable because it is based on facts. □ We don't have good solid information on where the people are. □ He has a solid alibi.
9 ADJ You use solid to describe something such as advice or a piece of work which is useful and reliable. □ The CIU provides churches with solid advice on a wide range of subjects. □ All I am looking for is a good solid performance. ● sol|id|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ She's played solidly throughout the spring.
10 ADJ You use solid to describe something such as the basis for a policy or support for an organization when it is strong, because it has been developed carefully and slowly. □ …Washington's attempt to build a solid international coalition. ● sol|id|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ This district is solidly Republican. □ So far, majority public opinion is solidly behind the government. ● so|lid|ity N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …doubts over the solidity of European backing for the American approach.
11 ADJ [ADJ n, -ed ADJ ] If you do something for a solid period of time, you do it without any pause or interruption throughout that time. □ We had worked together for two solid years. ● sol|id|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Dan has worked solidly at his music since his teens.
12 → see also rock-solid SYNONYMS solid ADJ 4
firm: Fruit should be firm and in excellent condition.
hard: He shuffled his feet on the hard wooden floor.
compact: He looked physically very powerful, athletic in a compact way.
dense: …a small dense star.
soli|dar|ity /sɒ l I dæ r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT If a group of people show solidarity , they show support for each other or for another group, especially in political or international affairs. □ [+ with ] Supporters want to march tomorrow to show solidarity with their leaders.
so l|id fu el (solid fuels ) N‑VAR Solid fuel is fuel such as coal or wood, that is solid rather than liquid or gas. [BRIT ]
so|lidi|fy /səl I d I fa I / (solidifies , solidifying , solidified )
1 VERB When a liquid solidifies or is solidified , it changes into a solid. □ [V ] The thicker lava would have taken two weeks to solidify. □ [V n] They plan to solidify the waste in a high-tech factory. □ [V -ed] …a frying-pan full of solidified fat.
2 VERB If something such as a position or opinion solidifies , or if something solidifies it, it becomes firmer and more definite and unlikely to change. □ [V ] Her attitudes solidified through privilege and habit. □ [V n] …his attempt to solidify his position as chairman.
so lid-sta te ADJ [ADJ n] Solid-state electronic equipment is made using transistors or silicon chips, instead of valves or other mechanical parts. [TECHNICAL ]
so|lilo|quy /səl I ləkwi/ (soliloquies ) N‑COUNT A soliloquy is a speech in a play in which an actor or actress speaks to himself or herself and to the audience, rather than to another actor.
soli|taire /sɒ l I teə r / (solitaires )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Solitaire is a game for one person in which you move and remove objects on a board, with the aim of having one object left at the end of the game.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Solitaire is a card game for only one player. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, use patience 3 N‑COUNT A solitaire is a diamond or other jewel that is set on its own in a ring or other piece of jewellery.
soli|tary /sɒ l I tri, [AM ] -teri/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A person or animal that is solitary spends a lot of time alone. □ Paul was a shy, pleasant, solitary man. □ They often have a lonely and solitary life to lead.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A solitary activity is one that you do alone. □ His evenings were spent in solitary drinking.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] A solitary person or object is alone, with no others near them. □ …the occasional solitary figure making a study of wildflowers or grasses.
so li|tary con|fi ne|ment N‑UNCOUNT [usu in N ] A prisoner who is in solitary confinement is being kept alone away from all other prisoners, usually as a punishment. □ Last night he was being held in solitary confinement in Douglas jail.
soli|tude /sɒ l I tjuːd, [AM ] -tuːd/ N‑UNCOUNT Solitude is the state of being alone, especially when this is peaceful and pleasant. □ He enjoyed his moments of solitude before the pressures of the day began.