hail

hail¹ [heıl] n

[: Old English; Origin: hagal, hAgl]

1.) [U]

frozen rain drops which fall as hard balls of ice

▪ heavy showers of rain and hail

2.) a hail of bullets/stones etc

a large number of bullets, stones etc that are thrown or fired at someone

▪ The aircraft were met by a hail of gunfire.

3.) a hail of criticism/abuse etc

a lot of criticism etc

▪ The proposals met with a hail of criticism.

hail ²

hail² v

[Sense: 2; Date: 1200-1300; Origin: HAIL³]

[Sense: 3; Origin: Old English hagalian, from hagal; HAIL¹]

1.) [T]

to describe someone or something as being very good

hail sb/sth as sth

▪ Lang's first film was immediately hailed as a masterpiece.

be hailed sth

▪ The new service has been hailed a success .

▪ A young man is being hailed a hero tonight after rescuing two children.

2.) [T]

to call to someone in order to greet them or try to attract their attention

▪ She leaned out of the window and hailed a passerby.

hail a cab/taxi

▪ The hotel doorman will hail a cab for you.

3.) it hails

if it hails, small balls of ice fall like rain

▪ It's windy and hailing outside.

hail from [hail from sth] phr v

to have been born in a particular place

▪ And where do you hail from?