[I,T] if you soak something, or if you let it soak, you keep it covered with a liquid for a period of time, especially in order to make it softer or easier to clean

浸，泡:

Soak the clothes in cold water.

把这些衣服浸泡在冷水里。

Let the pans soak; I'll wash them later.

让锅子泡着吧，我过一会儿再洗。

Put the bottle in soapy water to soak the label off.

把瓶子放到肥皂水里，把商标泡掉。

[I always + adv / prep, T] to make something completely wet

（使某物）湿透，（把某物）浸湿:

Police aimed water hoses at the marchers, soaking them.

警察把水龙带对准游行示威者，把他们冲得浑身湿透。

The blood soaked through the bandage.

血浸透了绷带。

a rag soaked with oil

浸满了油的抹布

[I] to spend a long time taking a bath

长时间泡浴:

Soak in a warm bath to relax.

泡一个热水澡，放松一下。

[T] [informal] to make someone pay too much money in prices or taxes

向…敲竹杠（征重税）:

taxes that soak the middle classes

向中产阶级征收的重税

a long and enjoyable time spent sitting in the bath

〔长时间、舒服的〕泡浴:

I had a good long soak in the bath.

我在浴缸里舒舒服服地泡了很长时间。

[BrE] when you soak something

浸泡:

Give the towels a good soak , they're very dirty.

把毛巾好好泡一泡，太脏了。

an old soak, someone who is often drunk – used humorously

酒鬼，经常喝醉的人〔幽默用法〕