well
2- a hole drilled or bored into the earth to obtain water, petroleum, natural gas, brine, or sulfur.
- a spring or natural source of water.
- an apparent reservoir or a source of human feelings, emotions, energy, etc.: He was a well of gentleness and courtesy.
- a container, receptacle, or reservoir for a liquid: the well of ink in a fountain pen.
- any sunken or deep, enclosed space, as a shaft for air or light, stairs, or an elevator, extending vertically through the floors of a building.
- Nautical.
- a part of a weather deck between two superstructures, extending from one side of a vessel to the other.
- a compartment or enclosure around a ship's pumps to make them easily accessible and protect them from being damaged by the cargo.
- a hollow compartment, recessed area, or depression for holding a specific item or items, as fish in the bottom of a boat or the retracted wheels of an airplane in flight.
- any shaft dug or bored into the earth, as for storage space or a mine.
- to rise, spring, or gush, as water, from the earth or some other source (often followed by up, out, or forth): Tears welled up in my eyes.
- to send welling up or forth: a fountain welling its pure water.
- like, of, resembling, from, or used in connection with a well.
Origin of well
2Synonyms for well
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for welling
release, drain, seep, leak, dribble, percolate, trickle, exude, bleed, inundate, brim, deluge, spill, drown, pour, swamp, cascade, gush, submerge, soakExamples from the Web for welling
Contemporary Examples of welling
That said, recognize the increased joy, enthusiasm and wanderlust now welling up inside you.
Greenness was welling up in what had been until not long ago a winter forest.
Historical Examples of welling
Her lips were quivering, and tears were welling into her eyes.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
The sea upbore me, flood of the tide, on Finnish land, the welling waters.
BeowulfAnonymous
And then suddenly, welling up like a bubbling spring, came memory.
Antony Gray,--GardenerLeslie Moore
Back of his shoulder was a jagged hole, from which his life-blood was welling.
Jeff Briggs's Love StoryBret Harte
He felt the stickiness, but the red blood was not welling out.
The Memory of MarsRaymond F. Jones
well
1- (often used in combination) in a satisfactory mannerthe party went very well
- (often used in combination) in a good, skilful, or pleasing mannershe plays the violin well
- in a correct or careful mannerlisten well to my words
- in a comfortable or prosperous mannerto live well
- (usually used with auxiliaries) suitably; fittinglyyou can't very well say that
- intimatelyI knew him well
- in a kind or favourable mannershe speaks well of you
- to a great or considerable extent; fullyto be well informed
- by a considerable marginlet me know well in advance
- (preceded by could, might, or may) indeedyou may well have to do it yourself
- informal (intensifier)well safe
- all very well used ironically to express discontent, dissent, etc
- as well
- in addition; too
- (preceded by may or might)with equal effectyou might as well come
- just as wellpreferable or advisableit would be just as well if you paid me now
- as well as in addition to
- just leave well alone or just leave well enough alone to refrain from interfering with something that is satisfactory
- well and good used to indicate calm acceptance, as of a decisionif you accept my offer, well and good
- well up in well acquainted with (a particular subject); knowledgeable about
- (when prenominal, usually used with a negative) in good healthI'm very well, thank you; he's not a well man
- satisfactory, agreeable, or pleasing
- prudent; advisableit would be well to make no comment
- prosperous or comfortable
- fortunate or happyit is well that you agreed to go
- an expression of surprise, indignation, or reproof
- an expression of anticipation in waiting for an answer or remark
- an expression used to preface a remark, gain time, etcwell, I don't think I will come
Word Origin for well
well
2- a hole or shaft that is excavated, drilled, bored, or cut into the earth so as to tap a supply of water, oil, gas, etc
- a natural pool where ground water comes to the surface
- a cavity, space, or vessel used to contain a liquid
- (in combination)an inkwell
- an open shaft through the floors of a building, such as one used for a staircase
- a deep enclosed space in a building or between buildings that is open to the sky to permit light and air to enter
- a bulkheaded compartment built around a ship's pumps for protection and ease of access
- another word for cockpit
- a perforated tank in the hold of a fishing boat for keeping caught fish alive
- (in England) the open space in the centre of a law court
- a source, esp one that provides a continuous supplyhe is a well of knowledge
- to flow or cause to flow upwards or outwardstears welled from her eyes
Word Origin for well
Word Origin and History for welling
well
"hole dug for water, spring of water," Old English wielle (West Saxon), welle (Anglian), from wiellan (see well (v.)).
well
"in a satisfactory manner," Old English wel, common Germanic (cf. Old Saxon wela, Old Norse vel, Old Frisian wel, Dutch wel, Old High German wela, German wohl, Gothic waila "well"), from PIE *wel-, *wol- (cf. Sanskrit prati varam "at will," Old Church Slavonic vole "well," Welsh gwell "better," Latin velle "to wish, will," Old English willan "to wish;" see will (v.)). Also used in Old English as an interjection and an expression of surprise. Well-to-do "prosperous" is recorded from 1825.
well
"to spring, rise, gush," Old English wiellan (Anglian wællan), causative of weallan "to boil, bubble up" (class VII strong verb; past tense weoll, past participle weallen), from Proto-Germanic *wal-, *wel- "roll" (cf. Old Saxon wallan, Old Norse vella, Old Frisian walla, Old High German wallan, German wallen, Gothic wulan "to bubble, boil"), from PIE root *wel- "to turn, roll" (see volvox), on notion of "roiling or bubbling water."
well
- A deep hole or shaft sunk into the Earth to tap a liquid or gaseous substance such as water, oil, gas, or brine. If the substance is not under sufficient pressure to flow freely from the well, it must be pumped or raised mechanically to the surface. Water or pressurized gas is sometimes pumped into a nonproducing oil well to push petroleum resources out of underground reservoirs. See also artesian well.
Idioms and Phrases with welling
well
In addition to the idioms beginning with well
- well and good
- well off
- well out of, be
- well preserved
also see:
- alive and kicking (well)
- all's well that ends well
- all very well
- as well
- as well as
- augur well for
- damn well
- do well
- full well
- get well
- hanged for a sheep, might as well be
- leave well enough alone
- only too (well)
- sit well with
- think a lot (well) of
- to a fare-thee-well
- very well
- wear well