English Dictionary

SOLITARY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does solitary mean? 

SOLITARY (noun)
  The noun SOLITARY has 2 senses:

1. confinement of a prisoner in isolation from other prisonersplay

2. one who lives in solitudeplay

  Familiarity information: SOLITARY used as a noun is rare.


SOLITARY (adjective)
  The adjective SOLITARY has 5 senses:

1. characterized by or preferring solitudeplay

2. of plants and animals; not growing or living in groups or coloniesplay

3. lacking companions or companionshipplay

4. being the only one; single and isolated from othersplay

5. devoid of creaturesplay

  Familiarity information: SOLITARY used as an adjective is common.


 Dictionary entry details 


SOLITARY (noun)


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)


SOLITARY (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by or preferring solitude

Synonyms:

lone; lonely; solitary

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:

alone; lone; lonely; solitary

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 
"Out of sight, out of mind." (English proverb)

"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)



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