wall

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Contents

English [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Etymology 1 [edit]

From Middle English wallen, from Old English weallian (to bubble, boil), from Proto-Germanic *wallōnan, *wellōnan (to fount, stream, boil), from Proto-Indo-European *welǝn-, *welǝm- (wave). Cognate with Middle Dutch wallen (to boil, bubble), Dutch wellen (to weld), German wellen (to wave, warp), Danish vælde (to overwhelm), Swedish välla (to gush, weld). See also well.

Verb [edit]

wall (third-person singular simple present walls, present participle walling, simple past and past participle walled)

  1. To boil.
  2. To well, as water; spring.
Related terms [edit]

Etymology 2 [edit]

From Middle English walle, from Old English *weall (spring), from Proto-Germanic *wallô, *wallaz (well, spring). See above. Cognate with Old Frisian walla (spring), Old English wiell (well).

Noun [edit]

wall (plural walls)

  1. (chiefly dialectal) A spring of water.

Etymology 3 [edit]

From Middle English wall, from Old English weall (wall, dike, earthwork, rampart, dam, rocky shore, cliff), from Proto-Germanic *wallaz, *wallan (wall, rampart, entrenchment), from Latin vallum (wall, rampart, entrenchment, palisade), from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (to turn, wind, roll). Cognate with North Frisian wal (wall), Dutch wal (wall, rampart, embankment), German Wall (rampart, mound, embankment), Swedish vall (mound, wall, bank). More at wallow, walk.

Noun [edit]

wall (plural walls)

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  1. A rampart of earth, stones etc. built up for defensive purposes.
  2. A structure built for defense surrounding a city, castle etc.
    The town wall was surrounded by a moat.
  3. Each of the substantial structures acting either as the exterior of or divisions within a structure.
    We're adding another wall in this room during the remodeling.
    The wind blew against the walls of the tent.
  4. A point of desperation.
  5. A point of defeat or extinction.
  6. An impediment to free movement.
    A wall of police officers met the protesters before they reached the capitol steps.
  7. A type of butterfly (Lasiommata megera).
  8. (often in combination) A barrier.
    a seawall, a firewall
  9. A barrier to vision.
  10. Something with the apparent solidity and dimensions of a building wall.
    a wall of sound, a wall of water
  11. (anatomy, zoology, botany) A divisive or containing structure in an organ or cavity.
    • 1992, Rudolf M. Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, page 4-5
      The epidermal cells of the capsule wall of Jubulopsis, with nodose "trigones" at the angles, are very reminiscent of what one finds in Frullania spp.
  12. (auction) A fictional bidder used to increase the price at an auction. Also called a chandelier.
  13. (soccer) A line of defenders set up between an opposing free-kick taker and the goal.
    • 2011 January 23, Alistair Magowan, “Blackburn 2 - 0 West Brom”, BBC:
      Blackburn were the recipients of another dose of fortune when from another Thomas pass Odemwingie was brought down by Jones inside the penalty area, but referee Mark Clattenburg awarded a free-kick which Chris Brunt slammed into the wall.
  14. (Internet) A personal notice board listing messages of interest to a particular user.
Synonyms [edit]
Translations [edit]
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Verb [edit]

wall (third-person singular simple present walls, present participle walling, simple past and past participle walled)

  1. To enclose with a wall
    He walled the study with books.
  2. (with "in") To enclose by surrounding with walls.
    They had walled in the garden
  3. (with "off") To separate with a wall
    The previous owners had walled off two rooms, making an apartment.
  4. (with "up") To seal with a wall
    They walled up the basement space that had been used as a coal bin.
Translations [edit]

Derived terms [edit]

Statistics [edit]

Anagrams [edit]


Scots [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

  • IPA: /wɑl/, /wal/

Noun [edit]

wall (plural walls)

  1. (spring): A well.