wall

wall [wôl]

n.

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

1. an upright structure of wood, stone, brick, etc., serving to enclose, divide, support, or protect; specif.,

a) such a structure forming a side or inner partition of a building

b) such a continuous structure serving to enclose an area, to separate fields, etc.

c) [usually pl.] such a structure used as a military defense; fortification

d) such a structure used to hold back water; levee; dike

2. something resembling a wall in appearance or function, as the side or inside surface of a container or body cavity

3. something suggestive of a wall in that it holds back, divides, hides, etc. [a wall of secrecy]

adj.

1. of or along a wall

2. placed or growing on, in, or against a wall

vt.

1. 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]

2. to close up (an opening) with a wall: usually with up

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drive to the wall or push to the wall

to place in a desperate or extreme position

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drive up the wall or send up the wall

Informal to make frantic, emotionally tense, crazy, etc.

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go to the wall

1. to be forced to retreat or yield in a conflict; suffer defeat

2. to fail in business; become bankrupt

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hit the wall or hit a wall

Informal to come to a point beyond which there is no further progress [to hit the wall after four years of steady profits]

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☆ off the wall Slang

1. unsound of mind; crazy

2. very eccentric or unconventional

wall-like

adj.