lull

¹lull

verb \ˈləl\

: to cause (someone) to fall asleep or become sleepy

: to cause (someone) to feel safe and relaxed instead of careful and alert

Full Definition of LULL

transitive verb

1

:  to cause to sleep or rest :  soothe

2

:  to cause to relax vigilance <were lulled into a false sense of security>

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Examples of LULL

1. The music lulled him to sleep.
2. <the absence of attacks for such an extended period had lulled the nation into a false sense of security>

Origin of LULL

Middle English; probably of imitative origin

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to LULL

Synonyms

becalm, compose, calm, lullaby, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], salve, settle, soothe, still, tranquilize (also tranquillize)

Antonyms

agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, key (up), perturb, upset, vex

Related Words

appease, conciliate, hush, mollify, pacify, placate; allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, lay, mitigate, quell, relax, relieve, solace; narcotize, sedate, stupefy

Near Antonyms

aggravate, heighten, intensify; arouse, excite, foment, incite, rouse, stir (up), work up

Rhymes with LULL

cull, dull, gull, hull, mull, null, scull, skull, trull

²lull

noun

: a brief time when an action or activity stops

Full Definition of LULL

1

archaic :  something that lulls; especially :  lullaby

2

:  a temporary pause or decline in activity <the early-morning lull in urban noise>: as

a :  a temporary calm before or during a storm

b :  a temporary drop in business activity

Examples of LULL

1. <we took the opportunity of a lull in the conversation to announce that we were engaged to be married>

First Known Use of LULL

1719

Related to LULL

Synonyms

break, breath, breather, interruption, pause, recess

Related Words

time-out; interim, interlude, intermission, interval, respite, rest; cessation, discontinuance, downtime, ending, expiration, finishing, hitch, lapse, stoppage, stopping, termination; abeyance, moratorium, surcease, suspension; discontinuity, gap, hiatus

Near Antonyms

continuation, endurance, persistence, progress, progression; extension, prolongation

Other Climate/Meteorology Terms

monsoon, occlusion, ozone, rime, squall, zephyr