Definition of: soul

(sōl) noun
1. The rational, emotional, and volitional faculties in man, conceived of as forming an entity distinct from, and often existing independently of, his body.
2. Theol. a The divine principle of life in man. b The moral or spirital part of man as related to God, considered as surviving death and liable to joy or misery in a future state.
3. The emotional faculty of man as distinguished from his intellect: He puts his soul into his acting.
4. Fervor; emotional force; heartiness; vitality; nobleness: His music lacks soul.
5. The animating principle of a thing; an essential or vital element: Justice is the soul of law.
6. The leading figure or inspirer of acause, movement, party, etc.: Lee was the soul of the Confederacy.
7. A person considered as the embodiment of a quality or attribute: He is the soul of generosity.
8. A living person; a human being: Every soul trembled at the sight.
9. The disembodied spirit of one who has died; a ghost.
10. In Christian Science, Spirit; Deity.
11. Among American blacks: a The awareness of a black African heritage, b A strongly emotional pride and solidarity based on this awareness, c The qualities that arouse such feelings, especially in black culture and art.
12. Soul music.
13. Soul food.
—adjective Of or pertaining to soul (def. 11). ♦ Homophone: sole, [OE sawol]
—souled adjective Synonyms: mind, spirit. The soul includes the intellect, sensibilities, and will; beyond what is expressed by the word mind, the soul denotes especially the moral, the immortal nature. Spirit is used especially in contradistinction from matter; it may in many cases be substituted for soul, but soul has commonly a fuller and more determinate meaning. In the figurative sense, spirit denotes animation, excitability, perhaps impatience; as, a lad of spirit. Soul denotes energy and depth of feeling, as when we speak of soulful eyes; or it may denote the very life of anything; as, the soul of harmony. Compare MIND.