So"cial (?), a. [L. socialis,
from socius a companion; akin to sequi to follow: cf. F.
social. See Sue to follow.] 1. Of
or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the
public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns;
social pleasure; social benefits; social
happiness; social duties. "Social phenomena."
J. S. Mill.
2. Ready or disposed to mix in friendly
converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social
person.
3. Consisting in union or mutual
intercourse.
Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not
Social communication.
Milton.
4. (Bot.) Naturally growing in groups
or masses; -- said of many individual plants of the same
species.
5. (Zoöl.) (a)
Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters,
as do ants and most bees. (b) Forming
compound groups or colonies by budding from basal processes or
stolons; as, the social ascidians.
Social science, the science of all that
relates to the social condition, the relations and institutions which
are involved in man's existence and his well-being as a member of an
organized community; sociology. It concerns itself with questions of
the public health, education, labor, punishment of crime, reformation
of criminals, and the like. -- Social whale
(Zoöl.), the blackfish. -- The social
evil, prostitution.
Syn. -- Sociable; companionable; conversible; friendly;
familiar; communicative; convival; festive.