soiling
Definition
Noun: 1. The act of making something dirty: The action of staining, smearing, or polluting a surface or material. - The soiling of the white carpet was immediately noticeable. - Frequent soiling of work clothes is common in that profession.
Usage
- As a subject: "Soiling" names the action itself.
- Soiling of public property is a punishable offense.
- With possessive or descriptive words: Used to specify what is being dirtied or who is responsible.
- The child's constant soiling of his pants was a concern.
- Accidental soiling can happen during messy projects.
Examples
- The soiling of the river was caused by industrial waste.
- She was frustrated by the repeated soiling of her new tablecloth.
- The law aims to prevent the soiling of national parks.
Advanced Usage
- In technical/formal contexts: Often used in environmental science, manufacturing, or hygiene discussions to describe contamination.
- The report detailed the soiling of the aquifer by chemical runoff.
- The fabric's resistance to soiling makes it ideal for upholstery.
Variants and Related Words
- Soil (verb): To make dirty.
- Try not to soil your new shoes.
- Soiled (adjective): Made dirty.
- The soiled laundry was placed in the hamper.
Synonyms
- Dirtying: The act of making something unclean.
- Staining: Causing a discolored patch or spot.
- Defilement (formal/literary): The action of desecrating or making unclean.
- Pollution: The presence of harmful substances (often used for larger-scale environmental contexts).
Antonyms
- Cleaning: The act of making something clean.
- Purification: The process of removing contaminants.
- Sanitization: The process of making something hygienically clean.
Related Phrases
- Resistant to soiling: A property of a material that does not stain or dirty easily.
- This paint is resistant to soiling and easy to wipe clean.
- Involuntary soiling: A medical or psychological term for the inability to control bowel movements.
- The condition can lead to involuntary soiling.
Noun
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the act of soiling something