To soak means to make something completely wet by leaving it in liquid for a while. When you soak dirty dishes in soapy water, you let them sit there so the dried food softens and becomes easier to scrub off. When you get caught in a rainstorm without an umbrella, you might get soaked to the skin, with water seeping through your clothes.

Soaking is different from a quick splash or rinse. It takes time. Chefs soak beans overnight before cooking them to make them softer. Scientists might soak samples in special solutions for hours or days as part of their experiments. When you soak in a warm bath after a long day, you're letting the heat and water relax your tired muscles.

The word can also mean to absorb liquid. A sponge soaks up water. Paper towels soak up spilled juice. Your brain might soak up knowledge in an interesting class, absorbing information the way a towel absorbs water.

When someone talks about soaking the rich, they mean taxing wealthy people heavily. And if you take a soaking, you've suffered a financial loss or gotten drenched by rain.