wall

The definition of a wall is something that divides or supports.

(noun)

An example of a wall is the four sides to a closed off room in a house.
An example of a wall is the border that formally split Berlin into east and west sides.
An example of a wall is a person being closed off from their emotions.

See wall in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

an upright structure of wood, stone, brick, etc., serving to enclose, divide, support, or protect; specif.,
1. such a structure forming a side or inner partition of a building
2. such a continuous structure serving to enclose an area, to separate fields, etc.
3. such a structure used as a military defense; fortification
4. such a structure used to hold back water; levee; dike
something resembling a wall in appearance or function, as the side or inside surface of a container or body cavity
something suggestive of a wall in that it holds back, divides, hides, etc.: a wall of secrecy

Origin: ME wal < OE weall (akin to Ger wall) < L vallum, rampart < vallus, a stake, palisade < IE base *wel-, to turn > walk

adjective

transitive verb

to furnish, line, enclose, divide, protect, etc. with or as with a wall or walls: to wall a room with books, to wall off the old wing, a mind walled in by fears
to close up (an opening) with a wall: usually with up

Related Forms:

See wall in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

An upright structure of masonry, wood, plaster, or other building material serving to enclose, divide, or protect an area, especially a vertical construction forming an inner partition or exterior siding of a building.
A continuous structure of masonry or other material forming a rampart and built for defensive purposes. Often used in the plural.
A structure of stonework, cement, or other material built to retain a flow of water.
a. Something resembling a wall in appearance, function, or construction, as the exterior surface of a body organ or part: the abdominal wall.
b. Something resembling a wall in impenetrability or strength: a wall of silence; a wall of fog.
c. An extreme or desperate condition or position, such as defeat or ruin: driven to the wall by poverty.
Sports The vertical surface of an ocean wave in surfing.

transitive verb walled, wall·ing, walls

To enclose, surround, or fortify with or as if with a wall: wall up an old window. See Synonyms at enclose.
To divide or separate with or as if with a wall. Often used with off: wall off half a room.
To confine or seal behind a wall; immure: “I determined to wall [the body] up in the cellar” (Edgar Allan Poe).
To block or close (an opening or passage, for example) with or as if with a wall.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English weall

Origin: , from Latin vallum, palisade

Origin: , from vallus, stake

Related Forms: