hall

¹

[ hawl ]

noun

1. a corridor or passageway in a building.
2. the large entrance room of a house or building; vestibule; lobby.
3. a large room or building for public gatherings; auditorium:

   convention hall; concert hall.

4. a large building for residence, instruction, or other purposes, at a college or university.
5. a college at a university.
6. (in English colleges)
   1. a large room in which the members and students dine.
   2. dinner in such a room.
7. British. a mansion or large residence, especially one on a large estate.
8. British Informal. music hall.
9. the chief room in a medieval castle or similar structure, used for eating, sleeping, and entertaining.
10. the castle, house, or similar structure of a medieval chieftain or noble.
11. Southeastern U.S.: Older Use. the living room or family room of a house.

Hall

²

[ hawl ]

noun

1. A·saph [ey, -s, uh, f], 1829–1907, U.S. astronomer: discovered the satellites of Mars.
2. Charles Francis, 1821–71, U.S. Arctic explorer.
3. Charles Martin, 1863–1914, U.S. chemist, metallurgist, and manufacturer.
4. Donald, 1928–2018, U.S. poet and editor.
5. Granville Stanley, 1846–1924, U.S. psychologist and educator.
6. James Norman, 1887–1951, U.S. novelist.
7. (Marguerite) Rad·clyffe [rad, -klif], 1880–1943, English writer.
8. Prince, 1748?–1807, U.S. clergyman and abolitionist, born in Barbados: may have fought at Bunker Hill.

hall

¹

/ hɔːl /

noun

1. a room serving as an entry area within a house or building
2. sometimes capital a building for public meetings
3. often capital the great house of an estate; manor
4. a large building or room used for assemblies, worship, concerts, dances, etc
5. a residential building, esp in a university; hall of residence
6. 1. a large room, esp for dining, in a college or university
   2. a meal eaten in this room
7. the large room of a house, castle, etc
8. a passage or corridor into which rooms open
9. See music hall
   informal.
   often plural short for music hall

Hall

²

/ hɔːl /

noun

1. HallCharles Martin18631914MUSSCIENCE: chemist Charles Martin. 1863–1914, US chemist: discovered the electrolytic process for producing aluminium
2. HallSir John18241907MNew ZealandEnglishPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: prime minister Sir John. 1824–1907, New Zealand statesman, born in England: prime minister of New Zealand (1879–82)
3. HallSir Peter1930MEnglishTHEATRE: stage director Sir Peter. born 1930, English stage director: director of the Royal Shakespeare Company (1960–73) and of the National Theatre (1973–88)
4. Hall(Margueritte) Radclyffe18831943MBritishWRITING: novelistWRITING: poet ( Margueritte ) Radclyffe . 1883–1943, British novelist and poet. Her frank treatment of a lesbian theme in the novel The Well of Loneliness (1928) led to an obscenity trial

Other Words From

• subhall noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hall¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English heall; cognate with Old Norse hǫll, German Halle; akin to Old English helan to cover, hide, Latin cēlāre to hide ( conceal )

Word History and Origins

Origin of hall¹

Old English heall; related to Old Norse höll, Old High German halla hall, Latin cela cell ¹, Old Irish cuile cellar, Sanskrit śālā hut; see hell

Example Sentences

All economic activity came to a grinding halt, with everything from school and cinema halls to offices and factories completely shut.

From Quartz

While experts can provide scientific advice, given the difficult policy choices ahead, a more inclusive and participatory dialogue is needed, through hearings, town halls and citizen panels.

From Time

Early in my senior year, I heard Angelika cheerfully bellowing my name down the hall, her usual method for calling people to her office.

From MIT Technology Review

The initial plan had been to test all students living in residence halls every other week, says Jake Baggott, associate vice chancellor and executive director of University Health Services.

From Science News

Be sure to check out the town hall we’re hosting next week for this race.

From Voice of San Diego

Tim Russert and I are driving back to the Albany airport after taking our kids to the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

From The Daily Beast

One day he and some of his roommates were cleaning their room and one of the guys threw the dustpan out into the hall.

From The Daily Beast

But he elected instead to have a very visible affair with a music-hall star.

From The Daily Beast

But, strange to say, Cocker never got inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

From The Daily Beast

There's blood on many hands tonight…That blood on the hands starts at City Hall in the Office of the Mayor.

From The Daily Beast

In the entrance hall of the Savoy, where large and lonely porters were dozing, he learnt that she was at home.

From Project Gutenberg

At Felipe's cry, the women waiting in the hall hurried in, wailing aloud as their first glance showed them all was over.

From Project Gutenberg

Then, with one accord, they all rose and began to steer their way around the furniture toward the hall, Goliath following.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Vivian had hardly spoken when the sharp little vibration of her door-bell was heard in the hall.

From Project Gutenberg

The governor went upstairs and found Juan de Messa in the hall.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amphitheater
• arena
• auditorium
• ballroom
• chamber
• church
• gallery
• gym
• gymnasium
• lounge
• theater