hail
(heɪl )
Word forms: hails , hailing , hailed
1. verb [usually passive] [Also be V-ed n]
If a person, event, or achievement is hailed as important or successful, they are praised publicly.
He has been hailed as the best centreback in the land. [be VERB-ed + as]
U.S. magazines hailed her as the greatest rock'n'roll singer in the world. [VERB noun + as]
The deal was hailed by the Defence Secretary. [be VERB-ed]
2. uncountable noun
Hail consists of small balls of ice that fall like rain from the sky.
...a sharp short-lived storm with heavy hail.
Synonyms: hailstones, sleet, hailstorm, frozen rain
3. verb
When it hails, hail falls like rain from the sky.
It started to hail, huge great stones. [VERB]
Synonyms: rain, shower, pelt
4. singular noun
A hail of things, usually small objects, is a large number of them that hit you at the same time and with great force.
The victim was hit by a hail of bullets. [+ of]
The riot police were met with a hail of stones and petrol bombs.
Synonyms: shower, rain, storm, battery
5. verb
Someone who hails from a particular place was born there or lives there. [formal]
I hail from Brighton. [VERB + from]
The band hail from Glasgow. [VERB from noun]
6. verb
If someone or something hails from a particular background, they come from it. [formal]
He hails from an affluent background. [VERB from noun]
This is a film which seems to hail from the hippie era. [VERB from noun]
7. verb
If you hail someone, you call to them. [literary]
Jill saw him and hailed him. [VERB noun]
Suddenly, a voice hailed us and there was Miss Quigley. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: salute, call, greet, address
8. verb
If you hail a taxi, you wave at it in order to stop it because you want the driver to take you somewhere.
I hurried away to hail a taxi. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: flag down, summon, signal to, wave down
9. convention
Hail is used as a word of greeting. [old-fashioned]
Hail to the new champion.
Image of hail
© SilverCircle, Shutterstock
Collocations:
be hailed a hero hail a decision hail a move hail a taxi hail damage hail storm
Will he surprise everyone by averting disaster and being hailed a hero?
Times, Sunday Times
The driver has been hailed a hero for his efforts to slow the train.
The Sun
Meanwhile, a nurse was hailed a hero after she carried three newborns to safety from a hospital rocked by the shock wave.
The Sun
The full version screened last night showed the family pet being hailed a hero for calling firefighters to a blaze.
The Sun
The driver - trapped with his co-driver - was hailed a hero for preventing a worse accident.
The Sun
Ticket reselling companies, which claim to serve sports fans by providing a forum to exchange tickets, hailed the decision as a 'victory for consumers'.
Times, Sunday Times
Critics hailed the decision as the end of a barbaric activity that has been steadily declining in popularity in recent years.
Times, Sunday Times
Patients' rights groups have hailed the decision as a victory for autonomy and self-determination.
Globe and Mail
But charities that had complained that they could lose hundreds of millions of pounds a year hailed the decision as a 'victory for common sense'.
Times, Sunday Times
Insurers are hailing the decision which they hope will serve as a warning to claims companies that fraudulent claims can 'cost them dear'.
Times, Sunday Times
Local government experts hailed the move as politically astute.
Times, Sunday Times
Watchdogs hailed the move as a 'step to put things right'.
The Sun
On social media, people shared the image in their thousands, hailing the move as genius.
The Sun
Some analysts hailed the move as a 'bold play'.
The Sun
Campaigners for a younger school starting age hailed the move as a breakthrough.
Times, Sunday Times
Nearly all town dwellers have access to frequent bus services, or could hail a taxi.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This app lets you hail a taxi with the push of a button.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And which celeb will be hailing a taxi home?
The Sun (2016)
The lift attendant came across the lobby in a limping run, raising an ancient hand as if trying to hail a taxi.
THE SERPENT'S MARK
Wheat, corn, soybeans, and tobacco are the most sensitive crops to hail damage.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Metal roofs are fairly resistant to hail damage, but may accumulate cosmetic damage in the form of dents and damaged coatings.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
These hills provide some protection from frost and hail damage.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Numerous cars were hit and several houses sustained roof damage; the cost of the hail damage was estimated at $100,000 in the town.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
There were 18 reported tornadoes and many reports of wind and hail damage.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
It looks like a hail storm hit my car.
Houston Chronicle
In 1910 a hail storm destroyed 100% of the village's crops, causing a food shortage.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A devastating hail storm destroyed its roof and the company was sent in search of new home.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
A local 1715 hail storm devastated the village.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
At least 300 homes were destroyed by the tornado which was followed by a hail storm.
Retrieved from Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0
Translations:
Chinese: 冰雹, 欢呼认可
Japanese: 雹, 呼び止める