soak

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To leave something in liquid for a while so it becomes completely wet.

   Soak the beans in water overnight before cooking.

2. 2
   verb

   To stay in water, especially in a bath, to relax or get clean.

   I love to soak in a hot bath after work.

3. 3
   verb

   To take in or absorb liquid, often used with up.

   The sponge soaked up the spilled water.

4. 4
   noun

   An act of staying in water to relax or clean something.

   After the long hike, a good soak in the tub felt wonderful.

From Middle English soken, from Old English socian (“to soak, steep”, literally “to cause to suck (up)”), from Proto-Germanic *sukōną (“to soak”), causative of Proto-Germanic *sūkaną (“to suck”). Cognate with Middle Dutch soken (“to cause to suck”). More at suck.

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