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hail

noun (1)
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\ ˈhāl How to pronounce hail (audio) \

Definition of hail

 (Entry 1 of 5)

1 : precipitation in the form of small balls or lumps usually consisting of concentric layers of clear ice and compact snow
2 : something that gives the effect of a shower of hail a hail of rifle fire

hail

verb (1)
hailed; hailing; hails

Definition of hail (Entry 2 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : to precipitate hail (see hail entry 1) it was hailing hard
2 : to pour down or strike like hail Bullets were hailing down on them.

hail

verb (2)
hailed; hailing; hails

Definition of hail (Entry 3 of 5)

transitive verb

1a : to greet with enthusiastic approval : acclaim hailed as a great success
b : salute, greet returning soldiers hailed with parades
2 : to greet or summon by calling hail a taxi

intransitive verb

: to call out especially : to call a greeting to a passing ship
hail from
: to be or have been native to or a resident of She hails from Chicago.

hail

interjection

Definition of hail (Entry 4 of 5)

1 —used to express acclamationhail to the chief— Sir Walter Scott
2 archaic —used as a salutation

hail

noun (2)

Definition of hail (Entry 5 of 5)

1 : an exclamation of greeting or acclamation greeted the emperor with a hail
2 : a calling to attract attention
3 : hearing distance stayed within hail
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Other Words from hail

Verb (2)

hailer \ ˈhā-​lər How to pronounce hail (audio) \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for hail

Synonyms: Noun (1)

Synonyms: Verb (2)

Synonyms: Noun (2)

Antonyms: Verb (2)

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First Known Use of hail

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b

Interjection

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (2)

1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for hail

Noun (1) and Verb (1)

Middle English, from Old English hægl; akin to Old High German hagal hail

Interjection, Verb (2), and Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old Norse heill, from heill healthy — more at whole

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Time Traveler for hail

Time Traveler

The first known use of hail was before the 12th century

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Statistics for hail

Cite this Entry

“Hail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hail. Accessed 20 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for hail

hail

noun
\ ˈhāl How to pronounce hail (audio) \

Kids Definition of hail

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1 : small lumps of ice and snow that fall from the clouds sometimes during thunderstorms
2 : volley entry 1 sense 1 a hail of bullets

hail

verb
hailed; hailing

Kids Definition of hail (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : to fall as hail It's hailing hard.
2 : to pour down like hail Confetti hailed on the parade.

hail

verb
hailed; hailing

Kids Definition of hail (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : greet sense 1, welcome The town hailed the returning soldiers.
2 : to call out to I'll hail a taxi.
hail from
: to come from She hails from Oklahoma.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hail

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hail

Nglish: Translation of hail for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of hail for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hail

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