a. [ L. solidus, probably akin to sollus whole, entire, Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;: 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Not hollow; full of matter; as, a solid globe or cone, as distinguished from a hollow one; not spongy; dense; hence, sometimes, heavy. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. (Arith.) Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic; as, a solid foot contains 1, 728 solid inches. [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ In this sense, cubics now generally used. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. Firm; compact; strong; stable; unyielding; as, a solid pier; a solid pile; a solid wall. [ 1913 Webster ] 5. Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united and form an unbroken word; -- opposed to hyphened. [ 1913 Webster ] 6. Fig.: Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial, as opposed to frivolous or fallacious; weighty; firm; strong; valid; just; genuine. [ 1913 Webster ] The solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] These, wanting wit, affect gravity, and go by the name of solid men. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 7. Sound; not weakly; as, a solid constitution of body. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ] 8. (Bot.) Of a fleshy, uniform, undivided substance, as a bulb or root; not spongy or hollow within, as a stem. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] 10. (Print.) Not having the lines separated by leads; not open. [ 1913 Webster ] 11. United; without division; unanimous; as, the delegation is solid for a candidate. [ Polit. Cant. U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Hard; firm; compact; strong; substantial; stable; sound; real; valid; true; just; weighty; profound; grave; important. -- 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. [ 1913 Webster ] Repose you there; while I [ return ] to this hard house,
More harder than the stones whereof 't is raised. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] I hear his thundering voice resound,
And trampling feet than shake the solid ground. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
