well

well
well
well1 [wel]
n.
[ME welle < OE wella, akin to weallan, to boil up, akin to Ger welle, wave, wallen, to boil < IE base * wel-, to turn, roll > WALK, L volvere, to roll]
1. a flow of water from the earth; natural spring and pool
2. a hole or shaft in the earth dug or drilled to tap an underground supply of water, gas, oil, etc.
3. a source of abundant supply; fount [a book that is a well of information]
4. any of various shafts or deep enclosed spaces resembling a well; esp.,
a) an open shaft in a building for a staircase; stairwell
b) a shaft in a building or between buildings, open to the sky for light and air
c) an elevator shaft
d) Naut. an enclosure in the hold of a ship for containing the pumps and protecting them from damage
e) a compartment in a fishing boat where freshly caught fish are kept
5. any of various vessels, containers, etc. for holding liquid, as an inkwell
6. a depression, as on a platter or broiler for catching meat juices
vi.
[ME wellen, to well up, bubble, boil, weld < OE wiellan, wyllan, to bubble, caus. of weallan: see WELL1 the n.]
to flow or spring from or as from a well; gush (up, forth, down, out, etc.)
vt.
to pour forth; gush [eyes that welled tears]
well2 [wel]
adv.
better, best [ME wel < OE, akin to Ger wohl: for IE base see WILL1: basic sense “according to desire”]
1. in a pleasing or desirable manner; satisfactorily [work that is going well]
2. in a proper, friendly, or attentive manner [to treat a person well]
3. skillfully; expertly [to sing well]
4. in an appropriate manner; fittingly [spoken well]
5.
a) prosperously; in comfort and plenty [to live well]
b) to one's advantage or well-being [to marry well]
6. with good reason; in justice; properly [one may well ask]
7. satisfactorily in regard to health or physical condition [the patient is doing well]
8. to a considerable extent, degree, or distance [well advanced]
9. thoroughly; fully [stir well before cooking]
10. with certainty; definitely [to know perfectly well what one must do]
11. intimately; familiarly; closely [to know a person well]
12. in good spirit; with good grace [he took the news well]: Well is also used in hyphenated compounds, meaning properly, satisfactorily, thoroughly, etc. [well- defined, well- paid, well- worn ]
adj.
better, best
1. suitable, proper, fit, right, etc. [it is well that he came]
2. in good health [she is quite well]
3. in a good or satisfactory condition; favorable; comfortable [things are well with us]
interj.
1. used variously to express agreement, resignation, surprise, inquiry, expostulation, etc.
2. used to preface or resume one's remarks
——————
as well
1. besides; in addition
2. with equal justification, propriety, or effect; equally
——————
as well as
in addition to
——————
wish someone well
to wish success or good fortune for someone

English World dictionary. . 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Well — Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la; originally… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well to do — Well Well, adv. [Compar. and superl. wanting, the deficiency being supplied by better and best, from another root.] [OE. wel, AS. wel; akin to OS., OFries., & D. wel, G. wohl, OHG. wola, wela, Icel. & Dan. vel, Sw. v[ a]l, Goth. wa[ i]la;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well — Well, n. [OE. welle, AS. wella, wylla, from weallan to well up, surge, boil; akin to D. wel a spring or fountain. ????. See {Well}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. An issue of water from the earth; a spring; a fountain. [1913 Webster] Begin, then,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well — is an English adverb with irregular comparison. Well may also refer to:* Water well, an artificial excavation or structure for the purpose of withdrawing water * Oil well, a hole drilled through the Earth s surface for the purpose of extracting… …   Wikipedia

  • well — Ⅰ. well [1] ► ADVERB (better, best) 1) in a good or satisfactory way. 2) in a condition of prosperity or comfort. 3) in a favourable or approving manner. 4) in a thorough manner. 5) …   English terms dictionary

  • Well — Well, a. [1913 Webster] 1. Good in condition or circumstances; desirable, either in a natural or moral sense; fortunate; convenient; advantageous; happy; as, it is well for the country that the crops did not fail; it is well that the mistake was… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Well — bezeichnet eine Vertiefung in einer Mikrotiterplatte Well ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Günther van Well (1922–1993), deutscher Diplomat und Staatssekretär Roman Well (eigentlich Ruvelis Leiba Sobolevicius, später Robert Soblen;… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • well — well, well There is much uncertainty about whether forms such as well( )made and well( )received should contain a hyphen or be spelt as two words. The normal rule is that the combination is hyphened when it occurs in attributive position (i.e.… …   Modern English usage

  • well- — well, well There is much uncertainty about whether forms such as well( )made and well( )received should contain a hyphen or be spelt as two words. The normal rule is that the combination is hyphened when it occurs in attributive position (i.e.… …   Modern English usage

  • well — [wel] noun [countable] another name for an oil well * * * well UK US /wel/ noun [C] ► NATURAL RESOURCES a deep hole in the ground from which you can get water: »These two tributaries of the Yellowstone River supply water for farms and wells in… …   Financial and business terms

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