wall

English

/wɔːl/, /wɔl/, /wɑl/

noun
Definitions
  • A rampart of earth, stones etc. built up for defensive purposes.
  • A structure built for defense surrounding a city, castle etc.
  • Each of the substantial structures acting either as the exterior of or divisions within a structure.
  • A point of desperation.
  • A point of defeat or extinction.
  • An impediment to free movement.
  • A type of butterfly ().
  • (often) A barrier.
  • A barrier to vision.
  • Something with the apparent solidity and dimensions of a building wall.
  • (anatomy) A divisive or containing structure in an organ or cavity.
  • (auction) A fictional bidder used to increase the price at an auction.
  • (US) A doctor who tries to admit as few patients as possible.
  • (soccer) A line of defenders set up between an opposing free-kick taker and the goal.
  • (Internet) A personal notice board listing messages of interest to a particular user.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English wall inherited from Old English weall (wall, dike, rampart, rocky shore, earthwork, dam, cliff) inherited from Proto-Germanic *wallaz derived from Latin vallum (wall, rampart, palisade, entrenchment) derived from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (turn, wind, see, roll, twist, round, turn around, press together, death in battle, killed in battle, wool, grass, bend, best, good, revolve, hair, ear, forest).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*wel-

Gloss

turn, wind, see, roll, twist, round, turn around, press together, death in battle, killed in battle, wool, grass, bend, best, good, revolve, hair, ear, forest

Concept
Semantic Field

Motion

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

森

Emoji
🙃

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms