hail Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Hail noun
Etymology
OE. hail, hael, AS. hægel; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. hagel; Icel. hagl; cf. Gr. pebble.
Definitions
  1. Small roundish masses of ice precipitated from the clouds, where they are formed by the congelation of vapor. The separate masses or grains are called hailstones.
    Thunder mixed with hail, Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky. Milton.
Hail intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. hailen, AS. haqalian.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Halled ; present participle & verbal noun Halting
Definitions
  1. To pour down particles of ice, or frozen vapors.
Hail transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To pour forcibly down, as hail. Shak.
Hail adjective
Definitions
  1. Healthy. See Hale (the preferable spelling).
Hail transitive verb
Etymology
OE. hailen, heilen, Icel. heil hale, sound, used in greeting. See Hale sound.
Definitions
  1. To call loudly to, or after; to accost; to salute; to address.
  2. To name; to designate; to call.
    And such a son as all men hailed me happy. Milton.
Hail intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To declare, by hailing, the port from which a vessel sails or where she is registered; hence, to sail; to come; -- used with from; as, the steamer hails from New York.
  2. To report as one's home or the place from whence one comes; to come; -- with from. Colloq. G. G. Halpine.
Hail interjection
Etymology
See Hail, v. t.
Definitions
  1. An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting. "Hail, brave friend." Shak.
Hail noun
Definitions
  1. A wish of health; a salutation; a loud call. "Their puissant hail." M. Arnold.
    The angel hail bestowed. Milton.

Webster 1913