WALL
WordNet
noun
(1) An embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
"They stormed the ramparts of the city"
"They blew the trumpet and the walls came tumbling down"
(2) An architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
"The south wall had a small window"
"The walls were covered with pictures"
(3) A masonry fence (as around an estate or garden)
"The wall followed the road"
"He ducked behind the garden wall and waited"
(4) A layer of material that encloses space
"The walls of the cylinder were perforated"
"The container's walls were blue"
(5) (anatomy) a layer (a lining or membrane) that encloses a structure
"Stomach walls"
(6) Anything that suggests a wall in structure or function or effect
"A wall of water"
"A wall of smoke"
"A wall of prejudice"
"Negotiations ran into a brick wall"
(7) A vertical (or almost vertical) smooth rock face (as of a cave or mountain)
(8) A difficult or awkward situation
"His back was to the wall"
"Competition was pushing them to the wall"
verb
(9) Surround with a wall in order to fortify
WiktionaryText
Etymology
, from a West Germanic borrowing of . Cognate with Dutch , German .
Noun
- A rampart of earth, stones etc. built up for defensive purposes.
- A structure built for defense surrounding a city, castle etc.
- The town wall was surrounded by a moat.
- Each of the substantial structures acting either as the exterior of or divisions within a structure.
- We're adding another wall in this room during the remodeling.
- The wind blew against the walls of the tent.
- A divisive or containing structure in an organ or cavity.
- The cell walls are mostly composed of cellulose.
- A temporary impediment to free movement.
- A wall of police officers met the protesters before they reached the capitol steps.
- A type of butterfly (Lasiommata megera).
- A fictional bidder used to increase the price at an auction. Also called a chandelier.
Verb
- To enclose with a wall
- He walled the study with books.
- To enclose by surrounding with walls.
- They had walled in the garden
- To separate with a wall
- The previous owners had walled off two rooms, making an apartment.
- To seal with a wall
- They walled up the basement space that had been used as a coal bin.