Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Solid?

\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.