mull

¹

[muhl]

verb (used without object)

1. to study or ruminate; ponder.

   Synonyms: weigh, consider

verb (used with object)

1. to think about carefully; consider (often followed byover ).

   to mull over an idea.

2. to make a mess or failure of.

mull

²

[muhl]

verb (used with object)

1. to heat, sweeten, and flavor with spices for drinking, as ale or wine.

mull

³

[muhl]

noun

1. a soft, thin muslin.

mull

⁴

[muhl]

verb (used with object)

Metallurgy.

1. to mix (clay and sand) under a roller for use in preparing a mold.

Mull

⁵

[muhl]

noun

1. an island in the Hebrides, in W Scotland. About 351 sq. mi. (910 sq. km).

Mull

¹

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a mountainous island off the west coast of Scotland, in the Inner Hebrides, separated from the mainland by the Sound of Mull . Chief town: Tobermory. Pop: 2667 (2001). Area: 909 sq km (351 sq miles)

mull

²

/ mʌl /

verb

1. to study or ponder

mull

³

/ mʌl /

verb

1. (tr) to heat (wine, ale, etc) with sugar and spices to make a hot drink

mull

⁴

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a light muslin fabric of soft texture

mull

⁵

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a layer of nonacidic humus formed in well drained and aerated soils Compare mor

mull

⁶

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a promontory

Other Word Forms

• mulled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mull¹

First recorded in 1815–25; perhaps identical with mull “to crumble, pulverize”; mull ⁴

Origin of mull²

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Origin of mull³

First recorded in 1670–80; earlier mulmul, from Hindi malmal

Origin of mull⁴

First recorded in 1400–50; of uncertain origin; possibly from Middle English mollen, mullen, originally, “to moisten, soften by wetting”; moil

Word History and Origins

Origin of mull¹

C19: probably from _muddle

Origin of mull²

C17: of unknown origin

Origin of mull³

C18: earlier mulmull, from Hindi malmal

Origin of mull⁴

C20: from Danish muld; see _mould ³

Origin of mull⁵

C14: related to Gaelic maol, Icelandic múli

Example Sentences

The president isn’t fully convinced, but he doesn’t have nearly enough time to mull the alternatives.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It’s unclear if the happy couple recalls their wretched experiences in Borderland, but their sights are trained on the future as they mull over baby names.

Read more on Salon

What questions are you mulling over as we await the ceremony to begin, my friend?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is not known whether this was one of the issues Sir Jim Ratcliffe was mulling over when the camera panned to him in the last dregs of United's latest damaging loss under Amorim's charge.

Read more on BBC

The Scottish government is currently mulling over a direct award.

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Related Words

• contemplate 
• deliberate 
• examine 
• ponder 
• weigh