wall

1 of 3

noun

ˈwȯl 

plural walls

1

a

: a high thick masonry structure forming a long rampart or an enclosure chiefly for defense

—often used in plural

b

: a masonry fence around a garden, park, or estate

c

: a structure that serves to hold back pressure (as of water or sliding earth)

2

: one of the sides of a room or building connecting floor and ceiling or foundation and roof

3

: the side of a footpath next to buildings

4

: an extreme or desperate position or a state of defeat, failure, or ruin

The surrounded troops had their backs against the wall.

5

: a material layer enclosing space

the wall of a container

heart walls

6

: something resembling a wall (as in appearance, function, or effect)

especially : something that acts as a barrier or defense

a wall of reserve

tariff wall

wall-like

ˈwȯl-ˌlīk 

adjective

wall

2 of 3

verb (1)

walled; walling; walls

transitive verb

1

a

: to provide, cover with, or surround with or as if with a wall

wall in the garden

b

: to separate by or as if by a wall

walled off half the house

2

a

: immure

walled the monster up within the tomb

—E. A. Poe

b

: to close (an opening) with or as if with a wall

wall

3 of 3

verb (2)

walled; walling; walls

intransitive verb

of the eyes : to roll in a dramatic manner

transitive verb

: to roll (one's eyes) in a dramatic manner

Phrases

off the wall

slang : highly unusual : bizarre

The plan was off the wall.

up the wall

slang : into a state of intense agitation, annoyance, or frustration

The noise drove me up the wall.

Synonyms

Noun

• barricade
• barrier
• fence
• hedge

Verb (1)

• box (in)
• cage
• closet
• coop (up)
• corral
• encage
• encase
• enclose
• inclose
• envelop
• fence (in)
• hedge
• hem (in)
• house
• immure
• include
• mew (up)
• pen

Examples of wall in a Sentence

Noun

A stone wall marks off their property.

the Great Wall of China

the walls of the ancient city

She hung posters on the walls of her room.

This apartment building has thin walls, and you can hear everything your neighbors say.

Muscles in the abdominal wall help protect organs.

Verb (1)

a lake almost entirely walled in by mountains

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The home itself is full of charm, with knotty pine walls to cement the woodsy vibe and thoughtful touches like antiques, a U-Turn turntable with Klipsch speakers, and a cozy pellet stove. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2024

Many walls have photos of the man himself, and throughout are snippets of his history. —Geoffrey Morrison, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Verb

The reception area was walled with Despont’s immense paintings of imagined planets and seemed designed to be grand and imposing. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 July 2024

Instead of walling yourself off, make like a detective and learn more about what’s intriguing you. —Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English weall; akin to Middle High German wall; both from Latin vallum rampart, from vallus stake, palisade; perhaps akin to Old Norse vǫlr staff — more at wale

Verb (2)

Middle English (Scots) wawlen, probably from Middle English wawil- (in wawil-eghed walleyed)

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing wall

• back is to/against the wall
• body wall
• brick wall
• cell wall
• Chinese wall
• climbing wall
• curtain wall
• drive (someone) up a wall
• drive (someone) up the wall
• drystone wall
• fire wall
• fly-on-the-wall
• fourth wall
• go to the wall
• handwriting on the wall
• hit the wall
• hole-in-the-wall
• party wall
• primary wall
• retaining wall
• see/read the writing/handwriting on the wall
• stone wall
• the writing/handwriting is on the wall
• Trombe wall
• up against a/the wall
• wailing wall
• wall in
• wall-mounted
• wall off
• wall painting
• wall plate
• wall plug
• wall rock
• wall rocket
• wall system
• wall-to-wall
• wall up
• writing on the wall

Kids Definition

wall

1 of 2 noun

ˈwȯl 

1

: a structure (as of brick or stone) meant to enclose or shut off a space

especially : a side of a room or building

2

: something resembling a wall

especially : something that acts as a barrier or defense

a tariff wall

3

: a layer of material that encloses space

the heart wall

the walls of a container

walled

ˈwȯld

adjective

wall

2 of 2 verb

1

: to provide, separate, or surround with or as if with a wall

wall in the garden

2

: to close off an opening with or as if with a wall

wall up a door

Medical Definition

wall

noun

ˈwȯl 

: a structural layer surrounding a cavity, hollow organ, or mass of material

molecules small enough to be absorbed through the intestinal wall

—Josie Glausiusz

muscles of the abdominal wall

walled

ˈwȯld 

adjective