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Meaning of "SOS" in the English dictionary

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DICTIONARY
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ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD SOS

Letters chosen as the simplest to transmit and receive in Morse code; by folk etymology taken to be an abbreviation for save our souls.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF SOS

SOS play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SOS

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Sos is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES SOS MEAN IN ENGLISH?

SOS

SOS is the commonly used description for the international Morse code distress signal. This distress signal was first adopted by the German government in radio regulations effective April 1, 1905, and became the worldwide standard under the second International Radiotelegraphic Convention, which was signed on November 3, 1906 and became effective on July 1, 1908. SOS remained the maritime radio distress signal until 1999, when it was replaced by the Global Maritime Distress Safety System. SOS is still recognized as a visual distress signal. The SOS distress signal is a continuous sequence of three dits, three dahs, and three dits, all run together without letter spacing. In International Morse Code, three dits form the letter S, and three dahs make the letter O, so "SOS" became an easy way to remember the order of the dits and dahs. In modern terminology, SOS is a Morse "procedural signal" or "prosign", and the formal way to write it is with a bar above the letters: SOS. In popular usage, SOS became associated with such phrases as "save our ship", "save our souls" and "send out succour".

Definition of SOS in the English dictionary

The first definition of SOS in the dictionary is an internationally recognized distress signal in which the letters SOS are repeatedly spelt out, as by radio-telegraphy: used esp by ships and aircraft. Other definition of SOS is a message broadcast in an emergency for people otherwise unobtainable. Sos is also a call for help.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE SOS

Sosnowiec
soss
sostenuto
sostenuto pedal
sot
soterial
soteriologic
soteriological
soteriology
Sothic
Sothic year
Sothis
Sotho
Soto

WORDS THAT END LIKE SOS

CMOS
DOS
EFTPOS
FOS
MOS
MS-DOS
PCOS
POS

Synonyms and antonyms of SOS in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «SOS» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF SOS

Find out the translation of SOS to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of SOS from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «SOS» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

紧急呼救
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

S.O.S.
570 millions of speakers

English

SOS
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

मुसीबत का इशारा
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

نِدَاءُ اسْتِغَاثَة
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

радиосигнал бедствия (SOS)
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

SOS
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

এসওএস
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

SOS
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

SOS
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

SOS
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

救難信号
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

SOS
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

SOS
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

tín hiệu cấp cứu SOS
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

SOS
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

एसओएस
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

s.o.s.
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

SOS
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

SOS
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

сигнал про небезпеку
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

mesaj SOS
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

σήμα κινδύνου
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

SOS
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

SOS
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

SOS
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of SOS

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «SOS»

The term «SOS» is very widely used and occupies the 6.060 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
97
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «SOS» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of SOS
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «SOS».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «SOS» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «SOS» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «SOS» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about SOS

EXAMPLES

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SOS»

Discover the use of SOS in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to SOS and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
SOS Help for Parents: A Practical Guide for Handling Common ...
Available in eight languages, SOS is internationally used by parents. The book teaches over 20 methods for managing 46 different problem behaviors. A video/DVD program, based on the book, is also available. Learn more at www.sosprograms.com
Lynn Clark, 2005
2
SOS Help for Emotions: Managing Anxiety, Anger, and Depression
SOS Help for Emotions teaches adult readers what to do to manage feelings in ways that don't get them in trouble or hurt others.
Lynn Clark, 2002
3
Chocolate SOS
Won't he? Full of Sue Limb's very funny take on early teenage life and problems, fans of Jess Jordan will be thrilled to have a new Fred and Jess story.
Sue Limb, 2012
4
S.O.S. Titanic
This suspenseful young adult adventure story is based on the true and terrible events that occured as the Titanic sank. “A dread sense of the inevitable drives this taut disaster story-and makes it nearly impossible to put down.”- ...
Eve Bunting, 1996
5
The SOS File
When the year comes to an end and Mr. Magro prepares to read the stories collected in the SOS file, the children wait eagerly to see whose emergency story will win them extra credit for the year. 20,000 first printing.
Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey, Laurie Myers, 2004
6
Titanic #3: S.O.S.
From bestselling author Gordon Korman, the thrilling conclusion to the adventure aboard the unluckiest ship of all.
Gordon Korman, 2011
7
Jo Frost's Toddler SOS: Solutions for the Trying Toddler Years
Jo Frost has become a household name because of her warmth, her love of children and her practical, no nonsense advice.
Jo Frost, 2013
8
SOS Sobriety: The Proven Alternative to 12-Step Programs
Sure to be controversial, S.O.S. Sobriety lays bare the limitations of Alcoholics Anonymous while describing the proven methods of alcohol and drug abstention advocated by James Christopher, founder of Secular Organizations for Sobriety (or ...
James Christopher
9
S.O.S: Chilling Tales of Adventure on the High Seas
"S.O.S". collects 19 intriguing tales--both fictional and true, classic and contemporary. From the depths of H. G. Wells's "The Abyss" to the tempest in Sebastian Junger's "The Perfect Storm", these stories are varied as the sea itself.
Sara Nickles, 2001
10
The Billionaire's Baby SOS
"Successful CEO Matt Patterson isn't called the Ice Man for nothing.
Susan Meier, 2013

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SOS»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term SOS is used in the context of the following news items.
1
DIY SOS to transform SIXTY-TWO houses for military veterans in …
Ex-servicemen and women are being given the chance to take part in the BBC One show DIY SOS in which 62 homes will be transformed into accommodation ... «Mirror.co.uk, Jul 15»
2
Salesforce launches Service for Apps, makes SOS generally available
Salesforce on Thursday launched new multichannel customer service tools for mobile applications and made Salesforce SOS generally available. The tools ... «ZDNet, Jun 15»
3
Mountain climbers rescued after stomping SOS in the snow
Saxon Spellman, 27, and Michael Wachs, 24, both of Idaho, stomped the letters "SOS" into the snow, according to a press release from Denali National Park. «CNN International, May 15»
4
Uber reveals updated version of its SOS alert system for riders in India
Uber introduced an SOS button to its app in February so you could connect with your local law enforcement in the case of an emergency during your ride. «The Next Web, Apr 15»
5
International SOS releases latest Health Risk Map
Dr Doug Quarry, medical director, medical information and analysis at International SOS said: “The analysis from our medical experts presents a very interesting ... «micebtn, Feb 15»
6
See the SOS Button That Uber Rolled Out in India
Uber rolled out its new SOS button in India on Wednesday as it looks to boost security measures following the alleged rape of a customer by one of its drivers. «TIME, Feb 15»
7
Uber is bringing an in-app SOS button on February 11
In a bid restore business, Uber is launching an emergency SOS button in its app starting February 11. Uber further highlights all the security measures it has ... «BGR India, Feb 15»
8
Delhi Police Launches 'Himmat' Android App for the Safety of Women
"As soon as the user of Himmat app raises the SOS alert from the Himmat App, the location information and audio-video is transmitted to Delhi Police control ... «NDTV, Jan 15»
9
SOS written on Kauai beach prompts rescue
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew was on a routine mission when they received notification by radio from a tour helicopter that S.O.S. was written in the sand on ... «KHON2, Dec 14»
10
DIY SOS is back: is this the most emotional show on TV?
Pound for pound, BBC1's DIY SOS offers far more emotional heft than almost anything else on television. Thought it was sad when that bloke died on Downton ... «The Guardian, Aug 14»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Sos [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/sos>. May 2024 ».
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