a market-town of England, in the county of Leicester, on a steep hill near the Soar, from which it derives its name, 7 miles N. of Leicester. It contains two Established churches, Methodist and Baptist chapels, and several schools. The inhabitants are employed in the manufacture of hosiery, and in the quarries in the vicinity, where a very hard trap rock is obtained, of which the town is built. Pop. 1536.