the action or fact of accosting someone and offering one's or someone else's services as a prostitute

although prostitution was not itself an offence, soliciting was

ask for or try to obtain (something) from someone

he called a meeting to solicit their views

don't solicit for money

accost someone and offer one's or someone else's services as a prostitute

he met her while she was soliciting in Soho

prostitutes solicit openly on the streets