hood

[ hood ]

/ hʊd /

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See synonyms for hood on Thesaurus.com

noun

a soft or flexible covering for the head and neck, either separate or attached to a cloak, coat, or the like.

something resembling or suggesting such a covering, especially in shape, as certain petals or sepals.

the hinged, movable part of an automobile body covering the engine.

British. the roof of a carriage.

a metal cover or canopy for a stove, ventilator, etc.

Falconry. a cover for the entire head of a hawk, used when the bird is not in pursuit of game.

an ornamental ruffle or fold on the back of the shoulders of an academic gown, jurist's robe, etc.

a crest or band of color on the head of certain birds and animals.

verb (used with object)

to furnish with a hood.

to cover with or as if with a hood.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of hood

First recorded before 900, in 1925–30 for def. 3 (an Americanism); Middle English hode, Old English hōd; cognate with Old Frisian hōde, Dutch hoed, German Hut hat

OTHER WORDS FROM hood

hoodless, adjectivehoodlike, adjective

Other definitions for hood (2 of 5)

hood²

[ hood, hood ]

/ hʊd, hud /

noun Slang.

a hoodlum.

Origin of hood

First recorded in 1925–30; by shortening

Other definitions for hood (3 of 5)

'hood

or hood

[ hood ]

/ hʊd /

noun Slang.

a neighborhood, especially an urban neighborhood inhabited predominantly by African Americans of low socioeconomic status: It’s hard for these kids to break the cycle of poverty and get out of the 'hood.

Origin of 'hood

First recorded in 1965–70; African American Vernacular English; by shortening

Other definitions for hood (4 of 5)

Hood

[ hood ]

/ hʊd /

noun

John Bell, 1831–79, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.

Raymond Math·ew·son

[math-yoo-suhn], /ˈmæθ yu sən/, 1881–1934, U.S. architect.

Robin. Robin Hood.

Thomas, 1799–1845, English poet and humorist.

Mount, a volcanic peak in N Oregon, in the Cascade Range. 11,253 feet (3,430 meters).

Other definitions for hood (5 of 5)

-hood

a native English suffix denoting state, condition, character, nature, etc., or a body of persons of a particular character or class, formerly used in the formation of nouns: childhood; likelihood; knighthood; priesthood.

Origin of -hood

Middle English -hode, -hod,Old English -hād (cognate with German -heit), special use of hād condition, state, order, quality, rank

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WORDS THAT USE -HOOD

What does -hood mean?

The suffix –hood is used to indicate “a state of being” or “a group of a particular characteristic or class.” It is often used in a variety of technical and everyday terms.

The form –hood comes from Old English hād, meaning “condition” or “rank.” Similar suffixes in Latin include –itās and –tūdō, both of which indicate a state of being and are the sources of the English suffixes –ity and –tude. Check out our entries for both suffixes to learn how frequently they appear.

Examples of -hood

An example of a word you may have encountered that features –hood is adulthood, “the state or period of being fully grown, fully developed, or of age.”

The adult– portion of the word means, naturally enough, “adult,” from Latin adultus. As we have seen, –hood refers to “a state of being.” Adulthood literally means “the state of being an adult.”

What are some words that use the equivalent form of –hood in Middle English?

What are some other forms that –hood may be commonly confused with?

Break it down!

Given the meaning of -hood, what does sisterhood mean?

How to use hood in a sentence

Micah is 10 years old and he had a coat geared to the season, a Patagonia winter jacket with a hood.
The Wildly Peaceful, Human, Almost Boring, Ultimately Great New York City Protests for Eric Garner|Mike Barnicle|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As McSpadden wailed in grief, Head climbed on the hood of the car to console her.
The Baptism of Michael Brown Sr. and Ferguson’s Baptism by Fire|Justin Glawe|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They should put dude down in the hood and let him get what he deserves.
Ferguson Tensions in Black and White|Seth Ferranti|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Was there a brief window where I relished it, where it proved something about the passage of teenager-hood to manhood?
Leo, the Beard Has to Go: When a Man’s Facial Hair Reaches Crisis Point|Tim Teeman|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But it is clear why they consider him some Robin Hood and others considered him the devil.
Gangster in Paradise: Benicio Del Toro Is Pablo Escobar|Alex Suskind|September 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The strains of the syren at last woke her uncle, and brought back Miss Hood, who suggested that it was late.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
She wore a little red hood, and looked wistfully after Davy as the shop went out of sight.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
Robin Hood stared at him for a moment with a puzzled expression, and then walked into his little shop, and Davy turned away.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
Jefferson Davis disguised himself in the hood, shawl, and dress of his wife in 1865.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
No, there was nothing to worry about as long as that relentless hunter of criminals known as the Black Hood kept off their tail.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various

British Dictionary definitions for hood (1 of 5)

hood¹

/ (hʊd) /

noun

a loose head covering either attached to a cloak or coat or made as a separate garment

something resembling this in shape or use

the US and Canadian name for bonnet (def. 3)

the folding roof of a convertible car

a hoodlike garment worn over an academic gown, indicating its wearer's degree and university

falconry a close-fitting cover, placed over the head and eyes of a falcon to keep it quiet when not hunting

biology a structure or marking, such as the fold of skin on the head of a cobra, that covers or appears to cover the head or some similar part

verb

(tr) to cover or provide with or as if with a hood

Derived forms of hood

hoodless, adjectivehoodlike, adjective

Word Origin for hood

Old English hōd; related to Old High German huot hat, Middle Dutch hoet, Latin cassis helmet; see hat

British Dictionary definitions for hood (2 of 5)

hood²

/ (hʊd) /

noun

slang short for hoodlum (def. 1)

British Dictionary definitions for hood (3 of 5)

'hood

/ (hʊd) /

noun

slang, mainly US short for neighbourhood

British Dictionary definitions for hood (4 of 5)

Hood

/ (hʊd) /

noun

Robin See Robin Hood

Samuel, 1st Viscount. 1724–1816, British admiral. He fought successfully against the French during the American Revolution and the French Revolutionary Wars

Thomas. 1799–1845, British poet and humorist: his work includes protest poetry, such as The Song of the Shirt (1843) and The Bridge of Sighs (1844)

British Dictionary definitions for hood (5 of 5)

-hood

suffix forming nouns

indicating state or condition of beingmanhood; adulthood

indicating a body of personsknighthood; priesthood

Word Origin for -hood

Old English -hād

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hood

Origin of hood

OTHER WORDS FROM hood

Other definitions for hood (2 of 5)

Origin of hood

Other definitions for hood (3 of 5)

or hood

Origin of 'hood

Other definitions for hood (4 of 5)

Other definitions for hood (5 of 5)

Origin of -hood

WORDS THAT USE -HOOD

What does -hood mean?

Examples of -hood

Break it down!

Words related to hood

How to use hood in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hood (1 of 5)

Derived forms of hood

Word Origin for hood

British Dictionary definitions for hood (2 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for hood (3 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for hood (4 of 5)

British Dictionary definitions for hood (5 of 5)

Word Origin for -hood