Oxford Essential Dictionary
sock
noun
a thing that you wear on your foot, inside your shoe:
a pair of socks
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
sock
I. sock1 S3 /sɒk $ sɑːk/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Sense 1,3-4: Language: Old English; Origin: socc, from Latin soccus 'light shoe']
[Sense 2,5: Date: 1600-1700; Origin: ⇨ ↑sock2]
1. a piece of clothing made of soft material that you wear on your foot inside your shoe:
a pair of socks
white ankle socks
2. knock/blow sb’s socks off informal to surprise and excite someone very much:
a new band that will knock your socks off
3. pull your socks up especially British English informal to make an effort to improve your behaviour or your work:
If they want promotion, United have got to pull their socks up.
4. put a sock in it informal used to tell someone in a joking way to stop talking or making a noise
5. informal a hard hit, especially with your hand closed:
Larry gave him a sock on the arm.
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ phrases
▪ a pair of socks He had a spare pair of socks in his gym bag.
▪ shoes and socks We took off our shoes and socks and waded in the stream.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + sock
▪ ankle/knee socks The girls wore navy dresses and white ankle socks.
▪ thick socks Wear thick socks and boots.
▪ woollen/cotton/nylon socks Cotton socks are better for your feet.
▪ odd socks (=socks that are not a pair) He was wearing odd socks – one blue one and one black one.
■ verbs
▪ wear socks He always wore red socks.
▪ put your socks on She sat on the bed beside him, putting on her socks.
▪ take your socks off My feet got so hot and sweaty I took my trainers and socks off.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
sock
sock [sock socks socked socking] noun, verb [sɒk] [sɑːk]
noun
1. a piece of clothing that is worn over the foot, ankle and lower part of the leg, especially inside a shoe
• a pair of socks
2. (informal) a strong blow, especially with the fist
• He gave him a sock on the jaw.
more at pull your socks up at pull v.
Word Origin:
Old English socc ‘light shoe’, of Germanic origin, from Latin soccus ‘comic actor's shoe, light low-heeled slipper’, from Greek sukkhos.
Example Bank:
• He wore odd socks, one red and one yellow.
• a pair of white tube socks
• He gave Mike a sock on the jaw.
Idioms: blow somebody's socks off ▪ put a sock in it ▪ sock it to somebody
Derived: sock something away
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
sock / sɒk / / sɑːk / noun [ C ] (CLOTHES)
sock
A2 a piece of clothing made from soft material that covers your foot and the lower part of your leg:
a pair of socks
nylon/woollen/cotton socks
thermal socks
ankle/knee socks
Put on your shoes and socks.
The little boy was wearing odd ( US usually mismatched ) socks (= socks of different colours) .
See picture clothes 3
sock / sɒk / / sɑːk / noun [ C usually singular ] old-fashioned slang (HIT)
a powerful hit:
a sock on the jaw
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
sock
/sɒk/
(socks)
Socks are pieces of clothing which cover your foot and ankle and are worn inside shoes.
...a pair of knee-length socks.
N-COUNT
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
2sock noun, pl socks [count] informal : a hard hit with the fist : punch
- usually singular
• She gave him a sock in the jaw/stomach.
- compare 1sock
1sock /ˈsɑːk/ noun, pl socks [count] : a piece of clothing that is worn on your foot and that covers your ankle and sometimes the lower part of your leg
• a white cotton sock
- usually plural
• a pair of socks
• wool/ankle/athletic socks
- see color picture
- see also bobby socks, tube sock
knock/blow your socks off informal : to affect or impress you in a very strong and favorable way
• This song will knock your socks off. [=you will enjoy this song very much]
put a sock in it informal
- used to tell someone to stop talking
• I wish someone would tell him to put a sock in it.
- compare 2sock