hail

Pluralhails (some meanings)

Formshails, hailing, hailed

Formshailer, hailest

1. 1
   falling icenoununcountable

   Small balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain, often in a storm.

   Like tiny balls of ice falling from the sky instead of rain.

   The hail bounced off the car roof during the storm.

   We waited inside until the hail stopped falling.

   UsageSay hail fell, not a hail. For one piece of ice, say a hailstone.

   Note
2. 2
   come fromverbintransitive

   To come from a certain place, family, or background.

   Like saying which town or country someone first comes from.

   They hail from a small village in the mountains.

   Both musicians hail from the same coastal town.

   UsageSay hail from: they hail from a small town.

   Similarcome, originate, stem, derive

3. 3
   praise asverbtransitive

   To welcome or praise someone or something warmly and in public.

   Critics hailed the film as the best of the year.

   Many people hail her as a hero for pulling the boy out of the river.

   UsageOften in hailed as a hero or hailed as the best.

   Similaracclaim, praise, celebrate, herald, welcome

   Oppositecondemn, criticize

   Note
4. 4
   flag downverbtransitive

   To wave or signal so a bus or taxi will stop and pick you up.

   Like waving your hand so a bus or taxi knows to stop for you.

   She hailed a taxi outside the station.

   You can hail a black cab almost anywhere in central London.

   UsageSay hail a taxi.

   Similarflag, signal

   Note
5. 5
   cry of honorinterjectionliterary

   An old, poetic way of greeting or honoring someone with respect.

   Hail, brave knight, and welcome to the castle!

   Hail to the king who returns victorious!

   UsageOften used with to: Hail to the king!

   Note
6. 6
   shower of thingsnouncountable

   A lot of things coming at you quickly, all at once, such as bullets or questions.

   Like rain, but made of stones or bullets coming at you fast.

   The soldiers ran through a hail of bullets.

   A hail of small stones rattled against the window.

   UsageSay a hail of bullets or a hail of questions.

   Similarbarrage, volley, shower, storm, torrent

   Note
7. 7
   signal to talkverbtransitive

   To call or wave to someone to get their attention or to start talking.

   Sailors often hail nearby boats to ask for help.

   A man on the dock hailed the passing boat.

   Similarcontact, signal, call

Showing meanings only. Show all 11