The spelling of the word "sop" may seem straightforward, but its pronunciation can be a bit confusing. The IPA phonetic transcription for "sop" is /sɑp/. The "s" is pronounced as an unvoiced alveolar fricative, the "o" as a back rounded vowel, and the "p" as an unvoiced bilabial plosive. This word is often used in culinary contexts, referring to a piece of bread or cake used to soak up liquid in a dish. So make sure your spelling and pronunciation of "sop" is on point next time you're enjoying a delicious meal!
Sop can be defined as a noun or a verb with various meanings depending on the context.
As a noun, sop refers to a piece of solid food that is soaked in a liquid before being eaten. This liquid could be a broth, gravy, or any other flavored liquid. The purpose of soaking the food is to soften it or enhance its taste. Sop can also refer to a sumptuous or indulgent meal or feast.
In a figurative sense, sop can mean a bribe or inducement given to someone to gain favor or influence, especially in a political or professional context. It can also denote a concession or compromise made to appease someone or avoid conflict.
As a verb, to sop means to soak or dip solid food in a liquid before eating it. It can also signify the act of saturating or soaking something with a liquid or substance, often to the point of absorption.
Another meaning of sop as a verb is to emotionally or intellectually indulge oneself in something, typically in a self-pitying or mawkish manner. It can also mean to appease, pacify, or mollify someone by making concessions or compromises.
Overall, sop encompasses the ideas of soaking food, bribes or concessions for favor, and indulging oneself. The specific meaning of sop can vary depending on the context in which it is being used.
• Anything dipped and softened in a liquid and intended to be eaten; anything offered to pacify.
• To steep or dip in a liquid for food.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "sop" derives from the Old English term "sopp", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "suppô". This Proto-Germanic word is related to the Old High German term "sop", the Old Norse word "soppa", and the Gothic word "supa". These words all refer to a piece of bread or a similar food item soaked in liquid, particularly broth or gravy. Over time, the meaning of "sop" expanded to encompass both the act of soaking bread or food in liquid and the piece of soaked bread or food itself. The word has various applications and associations in different contexts, including culinary, linguistic, and figurative.