mull

[muhl]

See more 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

1815–25; perhaps identical with dial. mull to crumble, pulverize; see mull⁴

Synonyms for mull

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1. consider, weigh.

mull

[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

mull

⁴

[muhl]

verb (used with object) Metallurgy.

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

Origin of mull

⁴

1400–50; compare dial.: to crumble, pulverize, Middle English mollen, mullen, orig., to moisten, soften by wetting; see moil

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for mulled

contemplate, ponder, weigh, examine, deliberate, delay, consider, figure, linger, study, moon, procrastinate, reflect, meditate, chaw, revolve, ruminate, review, woolgather

Examples from the Web for mulled

Contemporary Examples of mulled

As Dre mulled over how to talk to Andre Jr. (Marcus Scribner) about sex, Pops appeared while his son was stretching.
Why ‘Black-ish’ Has a Gay Problem
Tim Teeman
October 3, 2014
As they mulled how to best pull off the crossover, “we talked about the two ways we could do it,” says Povenmire.
‘Phineas and Ferb’ Pilot Disney’s Premier Voyage into ‘Star Wars’
Jason Lynch
July 25, 2014
Its most powerful argument is for the medium itself, the manner in which cinema—or viewing—can be mulled over.
‘Visitors’ Is Staring At You
Emma Myers
January 25, 2014
As Ryan has mulled his future, Boehner has welcomed him back into the fold.
Preventing a Revolt in the GOP House
Justin Green
December 12, 2012
For two years, Qawasmi mulled a list of independent women, and put her plan into action just last month.
Hebron's Independent Women, Part I
Simran Sachdev
October 17, 2012

Historical Examples of mulled

A few drops of either will be a grateful addition to a pint of gravy, or mulled wine, or in any case where allspice is used.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
He turned, and took the cup of mulled drink from his servant.
St. Martin's Summer
Rafael Sabatini
A mug of mulled claret for a nightcap, and a good sleep, will set you all right.
Barrington
Charles James Lever
Let me have the honour—a glass of mulled port wine, or a drop of cherry-bounce.
Deerbrook
Harriet Martineau
It was not the mulled egg that restored Mlle. Moriaz's color.
Samuel Brohl & Company
Victor Cherbuliez

British Dictionary definitions for mulled

Mull

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)

mull

verb

(tr often foll by over) to study or ponder

Word Origin for mull

C19: probably from muddle

mull

verb

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

Derived Formsmulled, adjective

Word Origin for mull

C17: of unknown origin

mull

noun

a light muslin fabric of soft texture

Word Origin for mull

C18: earlier mulmull, from Hindi malmal

mull

⁴

noun

a layer of nonacidic humus formed in well drained and aerated soilsCompare mor

Word Origin for mull

C20: from Danish muld; see mould ³

mull

⁵

noun

Scot a promontory

Word Origin for mull

C14: related to Gaelic maol, Icelandic múli

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

Word Origin and History for mulled

mull

v.1

"ponder," 1873, perhaps from a figurative use of Middle English mullyn "grind to powder, pulverize," from molle "dust, ashes, rubbish" (c.1300), probably from Middle Dutch mul "grit, loose earth," related to mill (n.1). But Webster's (1879) defined it as "to work steadily without accomplishing much," which may connect it to earlier identical word in athletics sense of "to botch, muff" (1862). Related: Mulled; mulling.

mull

v.2

"sweeten, spice and heat a drink," c.1600, of unknown origin, perhaps from Dutch mol, a kind of white, sweet beer, or from Flemish molle a kind of beer, and related to words for "to soften." Related: Mulled; mulling.

mull

"promontory" (in Scottish place names), late 14c., perhaps from Old Norse muli "a jutting crag, projecting ridge (between two valleys)," which probably is identical with muli "snout, muzzle." The Norse word is related to Old Frisian mula, Middle Dutch mule, muul, Old High German mula, German Maul "muzzle, mouth." Alternative etymology traces it to Gaelic maol "brow of a hill or rock," also "bald," from Old Celtic *mailo-s (cf. Irish maol, Old Irish máel, máil, Welsh moel).