mull

[ muhl ]

See synonyms for mull on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to study or ruminate; ponder.

verb (used with object)

to think about carefully; consider (often followed by over): to mull over an idea.
to make a mess or failure of.

Origin of mull

First recorded in 1815–25; perhaps identical with mull “to crumble, pulverize”; see mull⁴

Other words for mull

1	consider, weigh

See synonyms for mull on Thesaurus.com

Words Nearby mull

Other definitions for mull (2 of 5)

mull²

[ muhl ]

verb (used with object)

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

Origin of mull

First recorded in 1610–20; origin uncertain

Other definitions for mull (3 of 5)

mull³

[ muhl ]

noun

a soft, thin muslin.

Origin of mull

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

Other definitions for mull (4 of 5)

mull⁴

[ muhl ]

verb (used with object)Metallurgy.

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

Origin of mull

⁴

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

Other definitions for Mull (5 of 5)

Mull

[ muhl ]

noun

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

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

How to use mull in a sentence

I’d wanted to make one ever since I was a child, and had been mulling over a particular idea for at least a decade, but I wasn’t sure how it would be received.
Fiction: Quiet earth philosophy | Katie McLean | October 21, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
Governments have floated the notion of opening travel bubbles since at least May—when Australia and New Zealand were mulling the idea.
Will the world’s first ‘travel bubble’ actually work? | eamonbarrett | October 17, 2020 | Fortune
It’s a long-simmering fight that has gotten much more public in the past few months as US lawmakers and regulators have mulled whether Apple should be reined in by antitrust restrictions.
Apple won’t take a cut — for now — when Facebook sells online classes | Peter Kafka | September 25, 2020 | Vox
I could see … he was mulling around what can be done or something we could do within the state government that would be helpful to her.
The Woman Propositioned by Alaska’s Former Lieutenant Governor Tells Her Story for the First Time | by Kyle Hopkins and Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News | September 10, 2020 | ProPublica
The business and labor coalition behind the measure, who crafted it as a citizens’ initiative specifically to allow for this backup plan, said Wednesday it was mulling its next moves.
Morning Report: Punished for Pissing Off Police | Voice of San Diego | September 10, 2020 | Voice of San Diego

A group of friends gathers to mull over what to do with a day off.
The Awful Apps That Let You Vote With Your Wallet | Tim Mak | August 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Seth Green, Martin mull, Peter Riegert, Vanessa Lachey, Brenda Strong.
Fall-Winter TV Preview: Snap Judgments of 2013–14’s New Shows | Jace Lacob, Kevin Fallon | July 16, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
However, I have taken a step back mull over it to think about what Conard is saying, even if he is being gruff about it.
In Defense of Art History | Noah Kristula-Green | May 3, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Clearly, the attorney has already begun to mull his options.
Robert Bales, Accused in Afghan Deaths, Hires Flashy Lawyer John Henry Browne | Winston Ross | March 19, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Residents, both locals and expats, mull it over in daily conversations: whose apartment got robbed last night?
The Mysterious Burglars on the French Riviera | Dana Kennedy | August 10, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
"There was nae need," said Tammas, handing round his snuff-mull.
A Window in Thrums | J. M. Barrie
Meggy has long gone to the kirkyard, but the snuff-mull is still preserved.
Auld Licht Idylls | J. M. Barrie
Kooshy Ram laughed heartily at the idea of any stranger entrusting his wealth to Beeka mull.
The Olive Fairy Book | Various
The maids were to be in mull or gauze, as a very pretty thin material was called.
A Little Girl in Old Salem | Amanda Minnie Douglas
In 1767, the people of mull, in consequence of a disease among the cattle, agreed to perform an incantation.
The Doctor in History, Literature, Folk-Lore, Etc. | Various

British Dictionary definitions for mull (1 of 6)

mull¹

/ (mʌl) /

verb

(tr often foll by over) to study or ponder

Origin of mull

C19: probably from muddle

British Dictionary definitions for mull (2 of 6)

mull²

/ (mʌl) /

verb

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

Origin of mull

C17: of unknown origin

Derived forms of mull

mulled, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for mull (3 of 6)

mull³

/ (mʌl) /

noun

a light muslin fabric of soft texture

Origin of mull

C18: earlier mulmull, from Hindi malmal

British Dictionary definitions for mull (4 of 6)

mull⁴

/ (mʌl) /

noun

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

Origin of mull

⁴

C20: from Danish muld; see mould ³

British Dictionary definitions for mull (5 of 6)

mull⁵

/ (mʌl) /

noun

Scot a promontory

Origin of mull

⁵

C14: related to Gaelic maol, Icelandic múli

British Dictionary definitions for Mull (6 of 6)

Mull

/ (mʌl) /

noun

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)

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

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