gill

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈjil 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see Weights and Measures Table

gill

2 of 5

noun (2)

ˈgil 

1

: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water

2

a

: wattle entry 3

b

: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws

—usually used in plural

c

: one of the radiating plates forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom fungus

gilled

ˈgild 

adjective

gill

3 of 5

verb

ˈgil 

gilled; gilling; gills

transitive verb

: gillnet

intransitive verb

of fish : to become entangled in a gill net

giller noun

gill

4 of 5

noun (3)

ˈgil 

1

British : ravine

2

British : a narrow stream or rivulet

gill

5 of 5

noun (4)

ˈjil 

often capitalized

: girl, sweetheart

Phrases

to the gills

: as full or as much as possible

a suitcase packed to the gills

Synonyms

Noun (3)

• canyon
• ravine
• gorge
• valley

Noun (4)

• woman
• girlfriend
• girl
• gal
• lady

Examples of gill in a Sentence

Noun (3)

a narrow gill in the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District

a narrow but surprisingly deep gill runs the length of the rocky gorge

Noun (4)

every Jack must have his Gill

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This is a common behavior for bitterlings, and the fish have adapted to have females lay their eggs in the gills of freshwater mussels before the males come along to fertilize them, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025

Out of the Everglades, fins became limbs and gills became lungs. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 14 June 2025

The young mutant, with the ability to evolve and adapt to any environment, showed off his skills in the movie by submerging his head in a fish tank only to spontaneously sprout gills. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 11 June 2025

In fact, the gills resemble the same structure that horseshoe crabs possess, which is called the opisthosoma. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 16 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English gille, from Medieval Latin gillus, from Late Latin gillo, gello water pot

Noun (2)

Middle English gile, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish gäl gill, Old Norse gjǫlnar lips; akin to Greek chelynē lip, jawbone

Noun (3)

Middle English gille, from Old Norse gil; akin to Old High German gil hernia

Noun (4)

Middle English, from Gill, nickname for Gillian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1884, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (4)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gill

• gill arch
• gill cleft
• gill cover
• gill net
• gill raker
• gill slit

Rhymes for gill

• bill
• brill
• chill
• drill
• fil
• fill
• frill
• grill
• grille
• jill
• kill
• krill

Kids Definition

gill

1 of 2 noun

ˈjil 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see measure

gill

2 of 2 noun

ˈgil 

1

: an organ (as of a fish) of thin plates or threadlike processes for obtaining oxygen from water

2

: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws

—usually used in plural

3

: one of the plates arranged in a circle and forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom

Medical Definition

gill

1 of 2 noun

ˈjil 

: either of two units of capacity:

a

: a British unit equal to ¹/₄ imperial pint or 8.669 cubic inches

b

: a United States liquid unit equal to ¹/₄ United States liquid pint or 7.218 cubic inches

gill

2 of 2 noun

ˈgil 

1

: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water

2

: one of the radiating plates forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom

gilled

ˈgild 

adjective