wall Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun 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
  2. noun 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
  3. noun (anatomy) a layer (a lining or membrane) that encloses a structure
    paries.
    • stomach walls
  4. noun a difficult or awkward situation
    • his back was to the wall
    • competition was pushing them to the wall
  5. noun a vertical (or almost vertical) smooth rock face (as of a cave or mountain)
  6. noun a layer of material that encloses space
    • the walls of the cylinder were perforated
    • the container's walls were blue
  7. noun a masonry fence (as around an estate or garden)
    • the wall followed the road
    • he ducked behind the garden wall and waited
  8. noun an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
    rampart; bulwark.
    • they stormed the ramparts of the city
    • they blew the trumpet and the walls came tumbling down
  9. verb surround with a wall in order to fortify
    surround; palisade; fence; fence in.

WordNet

Wall noun
Definitions
  1. (Naut.) A kind of knot often used at the end of a rope; a wall knot; a wale.
Wall noun
Etymology
AS. weall, from L. vallum a wall, vallus a stake, pale, palisade; akin to Gr. a nail. Cf. Interval.
Definitions
  1. A work or structure of stone, brick, or other materials, raised to some height, and intended for defense or security, solid and permanent inclosing fence, as around a field, a park, a town, etc., also, one of the upright inclosing parts of a building or a room.
    The plaster of the wall of the King's palace. Dan. v. 5.
  2. A defense; a rampart; a means of protection; in the plural, fortifications, in general; works for defense.
    The waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Ex. xiv. 22.
    In such a night, Troilus, methinks, mounted the Troyan walls. Shak.
    To rush undaunted to defend the walls. Dryden.
  3. An inclosing part of a receptacle or vessel; as, the walls of a steam-engine cylinder.
  4. (Mining) (a) The side of a level or drift. (b) The country rock bounding a vein laterally. Raymond. ✍ Wall is often used adjectively, and also in the formation of compounds, usually of obvious signification; as in wall paper, or wall-paper; wall fruit, or wall-fruit; wallflower, etc.
Wall transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Walled ; present participle & verbal noun Walling
Definitions
  1. To inclose with a wall, or as with a wall. "Seven walled towns of strength." Shak.
    The king of Thebes, Amphion, That with his singing walled that city. Chaucer.
  2. To defend by walls, or as if by walls; to fortify.
    The terror of his name that walls us in. Denham.
  3. To close or fill with a wall, as a doorway.

Webster 1913