Collins English-English Dictionary

hail [heɪl]

1. 1. n small pellets of ice falling from cumulonimbus clouds when there are very strong rising air currents

2. 2. n a shower or storm of such pellets

3. 3. n words, ideas, etc, directed with force and in great quantity

   a hail of abuse

4. 4. n a collection of objects, esp bullets, spears, etc, directed at someone with violent force

5. 5. vi. [intr; with it as subject] to be the case that hail is falling

6. 6. vi. [often with it as subject] to fall or cause to fall as or like hail

   to hail criticism

   bad language hailed about him

7. 7. vi. [Etymology] Old English hægl; related to Old Frisian heil, Old High German hagal hail, Greek kakhlex pebble

hail [heɪl]

1. 1. vb [mainly tr] to greet, esp enthusiastically

   the crowd hailed the actress with joy

2. 2. vb to acclaim or acknowledge

   they hailed him as their hero

3. 3. vb to attract the attention of by shouting or gesturing

   to hail a taxi

   to hail a passing ship

4. 4. vi. [intr; foll by from] to be a native (of); originate (in)

   she hails from India

5. 5. n the act or an instance of hailing

6. 6. n a shout or greeting

7. 7. n distance across which one can attract attention (esp in the phrase within hail)

8. 8. sentence substitute [poetic] an exclamation of greeting

9. 9. sentence substitute [Etymology] C12: from Old Norse heill whole; see hale¹, wassail