| English Dictionary |
SOLITARY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does solitary mean?
• SOLITARY (noun)
The noun SOLITARY has 2 senses:
1. confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other prisoners
2. one who lives in solitude
Familiarity information: SOLITARY used as a noun is rare.
• SOLITARY (adjective)
The adjective SOLITARY has 5 senses:
1. characterized by or preferring solitude
2. of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or colonies
3. lacking companions or companionship
4. being the only one; single and isolated from others
5. devoid of creatures
Familiarity information: SOLITARY used as an adjective is common.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
Confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other prisoners
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Synonyms:
solitary; solitary confinement
Context example:
he was held in solitary
Hypernyms ("solitary" is a kind of...):
confinement (the state of being confined)
Sense 2
Meaning:
One who lives in solitude
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
hermit; recluse; solitary; solitudinarian; troglodyte
Hypernyms ("solitary" is a kind of...):
lone hand; lone wolf; loner (a person who avoids the company or assistance of others)
Instance hyponyms:
John the Baptist; St. John the Baptist ((New Testament) a preacher and hermit and forerunner of Jesus (whom he baptized); was beheaded by Herod at the request of Salome)
Derivation:
solitary (characterized by or preferring solitude)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Characterized by or preferring solitude
Synonyms:
Context example:
a solitary walk
Similar:
unsocial (not seeking or given to association; being or living without companions)
Derivation:
solitariness (a disposition toward being alone)
solitary (one who lives in solitude)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or colonies
Synonyms:
nongregarious; nonsocial; solitary
Context example:
solitary bees
Similar:
ungregarious ((of animals) not gregarious)
Derivation:
solitariness (the state of being alone in solitary isolation)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Lacking companions or companionship
Synonyms:
Context example:
a solitary traveler
Similar:
unaccompanied (being without an escort)
Derivation:
solitariness (the state of being alone in solitary isolation)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Being the only one; single and isolated from others
Synonyms:
lone; lonesome; only; sole; solitary
Context example:
a solitary speck in the sky
Similar:
single (existing alone or consisting of one entity or part or aspect or individual)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Devoid of creatures
Synonyms:
lonely; solitary; unfrequented
Context example:
a trail leading to an unfrequented lake
Similar:
uninhabited (not having inhabitants; not lived in)
Context examples
A solitary fibrous tumor characterized by the presence of areas of abrupt transition to high grade sarcoma.
(Dedifferentiated Solitary Fibrous Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)
Jane Eyre, who had been an ardent, expectant woman—almost a bride, was a cold, solitary girl again: her life was pale; her prospects were desolate.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
A solitary, slowly growing nodular mass, most often affecting the extremities.
(Cutaneous Fibrous Histiocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)
A usually solitary polypoid lesion that arises from the cervix.
(Cervical Fibroepithelial Polyp, NCI Thesaurus)
The tumors are round and solitary and contain connective tissue and papillary or tubular structures lined by epithelial cells.
(Fallopian Tube Adenofibroma, NCI Thesaurus)
The tumors are round and solitary and contain connective tissue and cystic structures lined by epithelial cells.
(Fallopian Tube Cystadenofibroma, NCI Thesaurus)
Gastrointestinal adenomas may present as solitary or multifocal lesions.
(Gastrointestinal Tract Adenoma, NCI Thesaurus)
It may arise as a solitary mass or it may be a component of multifocal lymphomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract.
(Gastric Mantle Cell Lymphoma, NCI Thesaurus)
Went to South America on a solitary expedeetion two years ago.
(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"No, no, not at all," Martin answered, shaking hands and waving him to the solitary chair, himself taking to the bed.
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Every rock strikes the feet of the poor." (Afghanistan proverb)
"Live together like brothers and do business like strangers." (Arabic proverb)
"The pen is mightier than the sword." (Dutch proverb)