Solid \Sol"id\ (s[o^]l"[i^]d), 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.
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2. Not hollow; full of matter; as, a solid globe or cone, as
distinguished from a {hollow} one; not spongy; dense;
hence, sometimes, heavy.
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3. (Arith.) Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic; as,
a solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.
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Note: In this sense, cubics now generally used.
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4. Firm; compact; strong; stable; unyielding; as, a solid
pier; a solid pile; a solid wall.
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5. Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united
and form an unbroken word; -- opposed to {hyphened}.
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6. Fig.: Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial, as
opposed to {frivolous} or {fallacious}; weighty; firm;
strong; valid; just; genuine.
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The solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer.
--Milton.
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These, wanting wit, affect gravity, and go by the
name of solid men. --Dryden.
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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.
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7. Sound; not weakly; as, a solid constitution of body. --I.
Watts.
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8. (Bot.) Of a fleshy, uniform, undivided substance, as a
bulb or root; not spongy or hollow within, as a stem.
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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.
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10. (Print.) Not having the lines separated by leads; not
open.
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11. United; without division; unanimous; as, the delegation
is solid for a candidate. [Polit. Cant. U.S.]
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{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.
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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.
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Repose you there; while I [return] to this hard
house,
More harder than the stones whereof 't is
raised. --Shak.
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I hear his thundering voice resound,
And trampling feet than shake the solid ground.
--Dryden.
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