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 by over ):

   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 promontory

mull

²

/ mʌl /

noun

1. a light muslin fabric of soft texture

Mull

³

/ 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

⁴

/ mʌl /

verb

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

mull

⁵

/ mʌl /

noun

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

mull

⁶

/ mʌl /

verb

1. troften foll byover to study or ponder

Derived Forms

• ˈmulled, 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

C14: related to Gaelic maol, Icelandic múli

Origin of mull²

C18: earlier mulmull, from Hindi malmal

Origin of mull³

C17: of unknown origin

Origin of mull⁴

C20: from Danish muld; see mould ³

Origin of mull⁵

C19: probably from muddle

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Voice of San Diego

A group of friends gathers to mull over what to do with a day off.

From The Daily Beast

Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Seth Green, Martin Mull, Peter Riegert, Vanessa Lachey, Brenda Strong.

From 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.

From The Daily Beast

Clearly, the attorney has already begun to mull his options.

From The Daily Beast

Residents, both locals and expats, mull it over in daily conversations: whose apartment got robbed last night?

From The Daily Beast

"There was nae need," said Tammas, handing round his snuff-mull.

From Project Gutenberg

Meggy has long gone to the kirkyard, but the snuff-mull is still preserved.

From Project Gutenberg

Kooshy Ram laughed heartily at the idea of any stranger entrusting his wealth to Beeka Mull.

From Project Gutenberg

The maids were to be in mull or gauze, as a very pretty thin material was called.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1767, the people of Mull, in consequence of a disease among the cattle, agreed to perform an incantation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• contemplate
• deliberate
• examine
• ponder
• weigh