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hull
1[ huhl ]
/ hʌl /
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Definition of hull
noun
the husk, shell, or outer covering of a seed or fruit.
the calyx of certain fruits, as the strawberry.
any covering or envelope.
verb (used with object)
to remove the hull of.
Midland U.S. to shell (peas or beans).
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Origin of hull
1First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English hulu “husk, pod”; akin to Old English helan “to cover, hide,” Latin cēlāre “to hide, conceal,” Greek kalýptein “to cover up” (see apocalypse); see conceal, hell
OTHER WORDS FROM hull
huller, nounWords nearby hull
hula skirt, huldre, hulk, hulking, hulky, hull, hullabaloo, hull balance, hull down, hulled, hull efficiency
Other definitions for hull (2 of 3)
hull2
[ huhl ]
/ hʌl /
noun
the hollow, lowermost portion of a ship, floating partially submerged and supporting the remainder of the ship.
Aeronautics.
- the boatlike fuselage of a flying boat on which the plane lands or takes off.
- the cigar-shaped arrangement of girders enclosing the gasbag of a rigid dirigible.
verb (used with object)
to pierce (the hull of a ship), especially below the water line.
verb (used without object)
to drift without power or sails.
Origin of hull
2First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of hull1
OTHER WORDS FROM hull
hull-less, adjectiveOther definitions for hull (3 of 3)
Hull
[ huhl ]
/ hʌl /
noun
Cor·dell [kawr-del, kawr-del], /ˈkɔr dɛl, kɔrˈdɛl/, 1871–1955, U.S. statesman: secretary of state 1933–44; Nobel Peace Prize 1945.
Robert Marvin "Bobby", born 1939, Canadian ice-hockey player.
William, 1753–1825, U.S. general.
a seaport in Humberside, in eastern England, on the Humber River.Official name Kings·ton-up·on-Hull [kingz-tuhn-uh-pon-huhl, -uh-pawn-, king-stuhn-] /ˈkɪŋz tən əˌpɒnˈhʌl, -əˌpɔn-, ˈkɪŋ stən-/ .
a city in southeastern Canada, on the Ottawa River opposite Ottawa.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use hull in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for hull (1 of 3)
hull
/ (hʌl) /
noun
the main body of a vessel, tank, flying boat, etc
the shell or pod of peas or beans; the outer covering of any fruit or seed; husk
the persistent calyx at the base of a strawberry, raspberry, or similar fruit
the outer casing of a missile, rocket, etc
verb
to remove the hulls from (fruit or seeds)
(tr) to pierce the hull of (a vessel, tank, etc)
Derived forms of hull
huller, nounhull-less, adjectiveWord Origin for hull
Old English hulu; related to Old High German helawa, Old English helan to hide
British Dictionary definitions for hull (2 of 3)
Hull1
/ (hʌl) /
noun
a city and port in NE England, in Kingston upon Hull unitary authority, East Riding of Yorkshire: fishing, food processing; two universities. Pop: 301 416 (2001). Official name: Kingston upon Hull
a city in SE Canada, in SW Quebec on the River Ottawa: a centre of the timber trade and associated industries. Pop: 66 246 (2001)
British Dictionary definitions for hull (3 of 3)
Hull2
/ (hʌl) /
noun
Cordell. 1871–1955, US statesman; secretary of state (1933–44). He helped to found the U.N.: Nobel peace prize 1945
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
Scientific definitions for hull
hull
[ hŭl ]
The dry outer covering of a fruit, seed, or nut; a husk.
The enlarged calyx of a fruit, such as a strawberry, that is usually green and easily detached.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.