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¹wall

noun \ˈwȯl\

: a structure of brick, stone, etc., that surrounds an area or separates one area from another

: the structure that forms the side of a room or building

: the outer layer of something that is hollow (such as a part of the body or of a plant)

Full Definition of WALL

a : a high thick masonry structure forming a long rampart or an enclosure chiefly for defense —often used in plural

b : a masonry fence around a garden, park, or estate

c : a structure that serves to hold back pressure (as of water or sliding earth)

: one of the sides of a room or building connecting floor and ceiling or foundation and roof

: the side of a footpath next to buildings

: an extreme or desperate position or a state of defeat, failure, or ruin <the surrounded troops had their backs against the wall>

: a material layer enclosing space <the wall of a container> <heart walls>

: something resembling a wall (as in appearance, function, or effect); especially : something that acts as a barrier or defense <a wall of reserve> <tariff wall>

— wall–like \ˈwȯl-ˌlīk\ adjective

— off the wall

slang : crazy <the plan was off the wall>

— up the wall

slang : into a state of intense agitation, annoyance, or frustration <the noise drove me up the wall>

See wall defined for English-language learners

See wall defined for kids

Origin of WALL

Middle English, from Old English weall; akin to Middle High German wall; both from Latin vallum rampart, from vallus stake, palisade; perhaps akin to Old Norse vǫlr staff — more at wale

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WALL

Synonyms: barricade, fence, hedge, barrier

Other Civil Engineering Terms

asphalt, ballast, barrage, cantilever, infrastructure, sluice

Rhymes with WALL

all, awl, ball, bawl, brawl, call, caul, crawl, doll, drawl, fall, gall, hall, haul, kraal, mall, maul, moll, pall, pawl, Saul, scall, scrawl, shawl, small, spall, sprawl, squall, stall, tall, thrall, trawl, yawl

²wall

verb

Definition of WALL

transitive verb

a : to provide, cover with, or surround with or as if with a wall <wall in the garden>

b : to separate by or as if by a wall <walled off half the house>

a : immure <walled the monster up within the tomb — E. A. Poe>

b : to close (an opening) with or as if with a wall

First Known Use of WALL

13th century

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

³wall

verb

Definition of WALL

intransitive verb

of the eyes

: to roll in a dramatic manner

transitive verb

: to roll (one's eyes) in a dramatic manner

Origin of WALL

Middle English (Scots) wawlen, probably from Middle English wawil- (in wawil-eghed walleyed)

First Known Use: 15th century

WALL Defined for Kids

¹wall

noun \ˈwȯl\

Definition of WALL for Kids

: one of the sides of a room or building

: a solid structure (as of stone) built to enclose or shut off a space <The property is surrounded by a brick wall.>

: something that separates one thing from another <a wall of mountains>

: a layer of material enclosing space <the heart wall> <the wall of a pipe>

— walled \ˈwȯld\ adjective

²wall

verb

walledwall·ing

Definition of WALL for Kids

: to build or have a wall in or around

Medical Dictionary

wall

noun \ˈwȯl\

Medical Definition of WALL

: a structural layer surrounding a cavity, hollow organ, or mass of material <molecules small enough to be absorbed through the intestinal wall—Josie Glausiusz> <muscles of the abdominal wall>

—walled \ˈwȯld\ adjective