mull1
- to study or ruminate; ponder.
- to think about carefully; consider (often followed by over): to mull over an idea.
- to make a mess or failure of.
Origin of mull1
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.commull2
- to heat, sweeten, and flavor with spices for drinking, as ale or wine.
Origin of mull2
mull4
- to mix (clay and sand) under a roller for use in preparing a mold.
Origin of mull4
Related Words
contemplateponderweighexaminedeliberatedelayconsiderfigurelingerstudymoonprocrastinatereflectmeditatechawrevolveruminatereviewwoolgatherExamples from the Web for mulled
Contemporary Examples
As Dre mulled over how to talk to Andre Jr. (Marcus Scribner) about sex, Pops appeared while his son was stretching.
As they mulled how to best pull off the crossover, “we talked about the two ways we could do it,” says Povenmire.
Its most powerful argument is for the medium itself, the manner in which cinema—or viewing—can be mulled over.
As Ryan has mulled his future, Boehner has welcomed him back into the fold.
For two years, Qawasmi mulled a list of independent women, and put her plan into action just last month.
Historical Examples
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.
He turned, and took the cup of mulled drink from his servant.
St. Martin's SummerRafael Sabatini
A mug of mulled claret for a nightcap, and a good sleep, will set you all right.
BarringtonCharles James Lever
Let me have the honour—a glass of mulled port wine, or a drop of cherry-bounce.
DeerbrookHarriet Martineau
It was not the mulled egg that restored Mlle. Moriaz's color.
Samuel Brohl & CompanyVictor Cherbuliez
Mull
- 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)
mull1
- (tr often foll by over) to study or ponder
Word Origin
mull2
- (tr) to heat (wine, ale, etc) with sugar and spices to make a hot drink
Word Origin
mull3
- a light muslin fabric of soft texture
Word Origin
mull4
- a layer of nonacidic humus formed in well drained and aerated soilsCompare mor
Word Origin
mull5
- Scot a promontory
Word Origin
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
n.
"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).