hail

/heil/
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hail

A child watches hail fall from the sky during a storm.

Definition
  1. Noun:

    • Precipitation of ice pellets: Small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky during some thunderstorms.
    • A large number of things thrown or sent forcefully: A rapid, dense succession of similar things, often unpleasant.
  2. Verb:

    • (It) precipitates as hail: Used with "it" as the subject to describe the weather phenomenon of hail falling.
    • To greet or welcome enthusiastically: To call out to or acknowledge someone, especially publicly and with approval.
    • To call for or signal to stop: To attract the attention of, typically a vehicle like a taxi.
    • To originate or come from: To have one's birthplace or background in a specific place.
    • To praise publicly and enthusiastically: To acclaim or celebrate someone or something.
Usage Examples
  • Noun:

    • The sudden hail damaged the car's windshield.
    • The speaker faced a hail of criticism from the audience.
  • Verb:

    • Look at the sky! I think it's going to hail.
    • Fans gathered to hail the returning champion.
    • She stepped to the curb to hail a taxi.
    • He hails from a small town in the Midwest.
    • The new policy was hailed as a major breakthrough.
Advanced Usage
  • "Within hail": Within calling distance; close enough to be heard.

    • The boat was still within hail, so we could shout instructions.
  • "Hail-fellow-well-met" (idiomatic adjective): Describes a person who is superficially friendly and hearty.

    • His hail-fellow-well-met manner didn't convince everyone of his sincerity.
Variants and Related Words
  • Hailstone (n): A single pellet of hail.
    • A large hailstone cracked the window.
Synonyms
  • Noun (ice): Ice pellets, frozen rain.
  • Noun (volley): Barrage, volley, shower, torrent.
  • Verb (greet): Acclaim, salute, applaud, cheer.
  • Verb (call): Summon, flag down, signal.
  • Verb (originate): Come from, originate from, be from.
Related Phrasal Verbs
  • Hail down (upon) : To fall or be directed forcefully and in great quantity.
    • Protesters hailed down insults upon the politician.
Related Idioms
  • "Hail Mary" (American Football): A very long, desperate pass made at the end of a game. More generally, a desperate last attempt.

    • With only seconds left, the quarterback threw a Hail Mary pass.
  • "Hail-fellow-well-met": (See Advanced Usage).

hail

A child watches hail fall from the sky during a storm.

Noun
  1. enthusiastic greeting
  2. many objects thrown forcefully through the air
    • a hail of pebbles
    • a hail of bullets
  3. precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents
Verb
  1. precipitate as small ice particles
    • It hailed for an hour
  2. greet enthusiastically or joyfully
  3. call for
    • hail a cab
  4. be a native of
    • She hails from Kalamazoo
  5. praise vociferously
    • The critics hailed the young pianist as a new Rubinstein