soled shoes

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Shoes that have a particular kind of sole, usually named just before the word 'soled'.

   Grammar: Almost always used with a word in front: rubber-soled shoes, thick-soled shoes.

   Patterns

   • rubber-soled shoes
   • thick-soled shoes
   • soft-soled shoes

   Wear soft-soled shoes if you are going to walk quietly across the wooden floor.

   The nurses all wear white rubber-soled shoes that are easy to clean.

   He bought a pair of thick-soled shoes to keep his feet dry in the rain.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Having soles, especially of the type mentioned; used mainly in compounds such as 'leather-soled'.

   Grammar: Combines with a material or shape word and a hyphen: leather-soled boots.

   Patterns

   • be + adverb + soled
   • a …-soled pair of shoes

   These boots are thickly soled, so they last well on rough ground.

   She prefers flat, lightly soled shoes for driving.

Common combinations

rubber-soled shoes

Rubber-soled shoes give you a good grip on wet pavements.

soft-soled shoes

Dancers wear soft-soled shoes so they can feel the floor.

thick-soled shoes

Thick-soled shoes keep your feet warm in winter.

leather-soled shoes

Leather-soled shoes are smart but slippery on ice.

flat-soled shoes

Flat-soled shoes are better than heels for long walks.

Synonyms and how they differ

sole

The noun for the bottom part of a shoe; 'soled' describes a shoe that has this part, often of a stated kind.

footwear

A general word for anything worn on the feet, without saying anything about the sole.

Word family

sole noun

The bottom part of a shoe that touches the ground.

sole verb

To put a new sole on a shoe.

resole verb

To replace the sole of a worn shoe.

Commonly confused: soled shoes or sold? soled shoes or souled?

Practice

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