noun

sole

A flat sea fish eaten as food.

The cook prepares a fillet of sole.

Etymology

The flat fish was compared to a sandal or sole. Its broad, flattened body supplies the shape behind the name.

More examples

  • A sole lay nearly hidden on the sandy bottom.
  • They served sole with lemon.
  • The fishmonger displayed fresh sole on ice.

Forms

sole · soles

Similar words

flatfish
The broader fish category.
flounder
Another kind of flatfish.