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  • hull
    hull
    noun
    the husk, shell, or outer covering of a seed or fruit.
  • Hull
    Hull
    noun
    Bobby Robert Marvin Hull, 1939–2023, Canadian ice-hockey player, known as “the Golden Jet”: Hockey Hall of Fame 1983.
Synonyms

hull

1 American  
[huhl] / hʌl /

noun

  1. the husk, shell, or outer covering of a seed or fruit.

    Synonyms:
    shuck, rind, peel, pod, skin
  2. the calyx of certain fruits, as the strawberry.

  3. any covering or envelope.


verb (used with object)

  1. to remove the hull of.

  2. Midland U.S. to shell (peas or beans).

hull 2 American  
[huhl] / hʌl /

noun

  1. the hollow, lowermost portion of a ship, floating partially submerged and supporting the remainder of the ship.

  2. Aeronautics.

    1. the boatlike fuselage of a flying boat on which the plane lands or takes off.

    2. the cigar-shaped arrangement of girders enclosing the gasbag of a rigid dirigible.


verb (used with object)

  1. to pierce (the hull of a ship), especially below the water line.

verb (used without object)

  1. to drift without power or sails.

idioms

  1. hull down, (of a ship) sufficiently far away, or below the horizon, that the hull is invisible.

  2. hull up, (of a ship) sufficiently near, or above the horizon, that the hull is visible.

Hull 3 American  
[huhl] / hʌl /

noun

  1. Bobby Robert Marvin Hull, 1939–2023, Canadian ice-hockey player, known as “the Golden Jet”: Hockey Hall of Fame 1983.

  2. Cordell 1871–1955, U.S. secretary of state 1933–44, known as “the Father of the United Nations”: Nobel Peace Prize 1945.

  3. William, 1753–1825, U.S. general, court-martialed and sentenced to death after surrendering a U.S. fort to the British during the War of 1812: pardoned by President Madison.

  4. Official Name Kingston-upon-Hull.  a seaport in Humberside, in eastern England, on the Humber River.

  5. a city in southeastern Canada, on the Ottawa River opposite Ottawa.


Hull 1 British  
/ hʌl /

noun

  1. 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

  2. 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)

"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

hull 2 British  
/ hʌl /

noun

  1. the main body of a vessel, tank, flying boat, etc

  2. the shell or pod of peas or beans; the outer covering of any fruit or seed; husk

  3. the persistent calyx at the base of a strawberry, raspberry, or similar fruit

  4. the outer casing of a missile, rocket, etc

"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

verb

  1. to remove the hulls from (fruit or seeds)

  2. (tr) to pierce the hull of (a vessel, tank, etc)

"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
Hull 3 British  
/ hʌl /

noun

  1. 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

hull Scientific  
/ hŭl /
  1. The dry outer covering of a fruit, seed, or nut; a husk.

  2. The enlarged calyx of a fruit, such as a strawberry, that is usually green and easily detached.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of hull1

First 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

Origin of hull2

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; special use of hull 1

Explanation

A sailor who is far out at sea has to hope that the hull of her boat is watertight. The hull of a boat or a ship is its outer body. A boat's hull can be made of wood, metal, or fiberglass — it gives a boat or ship its shape and keeps water out. Another kind of hull is the outer covering of a seed. Corn, for example, has a hull that is removed when you husk it and reveal the kernels. This kind of hull is thought to be the root of the nautical hull, probably based on the similarity between a ship's hull and an open pea pod.

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Vocabulary lists containing hull

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Clark’s teammate Lexie Hull was also asked about the moment on Monday during an appearance on Yahoo Sports Daily, and the Fever guard indicated it wasn’t even a blip on the team’s radar.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Silva, who had previously managed Hull City, Watford and Everton in England, was appointed in 2021 when Fulham were in the Championship.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

“That’s part of the game,” Hull said after mentioning the team had been in some foul trouble.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Neil's Millwall were in promotion contention all season, but narrowly missed out after finishing third in the league and losing to Hull in the play-off semi-finals.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

My father had telegraphed Mrs. Hull about our arrival and she had sent someone to meet us and take care of our luggage.

From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz

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