Soliciting is the act of asking for something, usually in a formal or official manner. It is often used in the context of fundraising or sales, but can also be used to refer to asking for donations, services, or support. In the context of the crossword solutions, the term 'soliciting' could refer to asking for money, goods, or services. The three-letter answer to the clue 'ASK' is 'SOL, ' which is short for 'soliciting.'