Socialism says the fruits of your labour are rightfully yours. The Capitalist says the fruits of your labour are his because you used his tools.
There are different kinds of Socialism and Socialists are experts at disagreeing with each other. I believe I have boiled it down to its essence here.
The trouble with getting your definition of Socialism from Merriam-Webster or any American media is you are reading Capitalist propaganda. Although, even the Wikipedia page on Socialism begins with this focus on ownership of capital which I believe is not the real nub of it. It accepts the Capitalist framing, creates a rhetorical handicap and a gap in understanding that can only be filled with pointless disagreement.
Capitalists should get something for the use of their tools, but not everything.
Workers should aim to own their own capital when possible and work for themselves or each other in coops and syndicates. The gifts of nature and natural monopolies should be owned and managed communally. Laws and institutions should be arranged to facilitate this rather than hinder it, and given that workers far outnumber Capitalists, this can all be done in the normal democratic way, no dictators required.