سُورَةٌ

(tropical:) Eminence, or nobility: (S, A, K:) rank or station: (S, M, A, K:) or high, or exalted, rank or station: (Ibn-Es-Seed:) excellence: (A:) plural سُوَرٌ and ↓ سُورٌ: [the latter of which is an anomalous plural; or a coll. gen. n. of which سُورَةٌ is the n. of un., as in another sense mentioned below:] (M:) and سُورَةٌ, (M,) or ↓ سَوْرَةٌ, (K,) a mark, or sign, of glory, honour, dignity, or nobility; and height thereof. (M, K.) You say, لَهُ سُورَةٌ فِى المَجْدِ (tropical:) He has eminence in glory. (A.) And لَهُ سُورَةٌ عَلَيْكَ (tropical:) He has superiority, and rank or station, over, or above, thee; he is of higher rank or dignity than thou. (A.) And سُوَرُ الإِبِلِ, (M,) [in the A سُوَرٌ مِنَ الإِبِلِ,] or ↓ سُوْرُ الإِبِلِ, (K,) means (assumed tropical:) The excellent ones of camels: (M, K:) singular سُورَةٌ, which, according to some, signifies hardy and strong. (M.)

سُورَةٌ also signifies What is goodly and tall, of structures. (M, K.)

And The extremity (حَدّ) of anything. (IAar, TA.)

See also سُورٌ.

Also A row of stones or bricks of a wall: (L, K: in the L, عَرَقٌ مِنْ أَعْرَاقِ الحَايءِطِ: in the K, عَرَقٌ من عُرُوقِ الحايءط, or, as in the CK, عِرْقٌ الخ:) any degree (مَنْزِلَة) of a structure: (S:) plural ↓ سُورٌ, (S, K,) [or this is a coll. gen. n.,] like as بُسْرٌ is of بُسْرَةٌ, (S,) and سُوَرٌ. (K.)

Hence its application in relation to the Qur'an, [to signify A chapter thereof,] because each of what are thus called forms one degree, or step, (S, M, * K,) distinct from another, (S, K,) or [leading] to another: (M:) or from the same word signifying “ eminence: ” (IAar:) or as being likened to the wall of a city: (B:) some pronounce it with hemz; (see article سأر;) but it is more common without: (TA:) plural سُوَرٌ, (S, Msb,) and سُورَاتٌ and سُوَرَاتٌ are also allowable. (S.)

A sign, or token. (IAar, M, K.) You say, بَيْنَهُمَا سُورَةٌ Between them two is a sign, or token. (IAar, M.)