Definition

1. Noun:

   • A shaped covering for the head: A garment worn on the head, typically having a crown and a brim, for protection, fashion, or as part of a uniform.
   • A role, position, or capacity: An informal term for a particular job, function, or identity a person assumes.

2. Verb:

   • To furnish with a hat; to put a hat on: To provide someone or something with a hat.
   • To wear a hat: To have a hat on one's head.

Examples

• Noun:

  • She wore a beautiful wide-brimmed hat to the garden party.
  • As a manager, he has to wear many different hats. (Meaning: he has to perform many different roles)

• Verb:

  • The portrait showed a gentleman hatted in the style of the 1920s.
  • The ushers were hatted in traditional uniform.

Advanced Usage

• "To wear another hat": To assume a different role or responsibility.

  • At the meeting, she was wearing her marketing director's hat, not her role as a board member.

• "To hang up one's hat": To retire from a profession or to settle down in a place.

  • After forty years in journalism, he decided to hang up his hat.

• "To tip one's hat": To acknowledge or show respect to someone.

  • He tipped his hat to the lady as she passed.

Variants and Related Words

• Hatless (adj): Not wearing a hat.

  • He walked hatless in the rain.

• Hatter (n): A person who makes or sells hats.

• Hatband (n): A band or ribbon around the base of a hat's crown.
• Hatbox (n): A box for storing or carrying a hat.

Synonyms

• Headgear: A general term for coverings for the head.
• Cap: A soft, close-fitting head covering, often without a brim or with a peak.
• Role: The function assumed or part played by a person.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Hat up (informal): To put on a hat.
  • It's cold outside; you'd better hat up.

Related Idioms

• To keep something under one's hat: To keep something secret.

  • This information is confidential, so please keep it under your hat.

• To take one's hat off to someone: To express admiration or respect for someone.

  • I take my hat off to the volunteers who worked all night.

• To talk through one's hat: To talk nonsense or about something one knows little about.

  • He's talking through his hat if he thinks that plan will work.

• To throw/toss one's hat into the ring: To announce one's candidacy or willingness to enter a contest.

  • Several candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the leadership position.

Noun

1. an informal term for a person's role
   • he took off his politician's hat and talked frankly
2. headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

Verb

1. furnish with a hat
2. put on or wear a hat
   • He was unsuitably hatted