ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hood

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈhʊd// UK //hˈʊd// hood
  1. 1 clothing (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a part of a coat or jacket that you pull up to cover your head.

    a flexible covering for the head, typically attached to the collar of a coat, jacket, or sweatshirt.

    Example

    He pulled up his hood when it started to rain during the walk.

    Example

    The heavy winter parka featured a fur-lined hood designed to protect the wearer's face from freezing arctic winds.
    • headpiece
    • cowl
  2. 2 car part (n.)
    B1 Intermediate American English

    the metal cover over the engine of a car.

    the hinged metal cover over the engine compartment of a motor vehicle.

    Example

    The mechanic opened the hood to check why the engine was making a noise.

    Example

    Steam began to billow from under the hood, forcing the driver to pull over before the engine overheated completely.

    Usage

    In British English, this part of the car is called the 'bonnet'.
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  1. 3 neighborhood (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Slang

    a short way of saying 'neighborhood', often used for the area where you live.

    a shortened form of 'neighborhood', frequently used to refer to one's local urban area or home district.

    Example

    He grew up in the hood and still visits his old friends there every weekend.

    Example

    The artist's lyrics often reflect the challenges and community spirit of growing up in the hood during the nineties.
  2. 4 criminal (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    a person who is a member of a gang or involved in crime.

    a person involved in organized crime or street-level thuggery; a shortened form of 'hoodlum'.

    Example

    The old movie was about a group of hoods trying to rob a bank.

    Example

    Local residents were concerned about the group of hoods that had begun loitering near the subway entrance after dark.
  3. 5 protective cover (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Technical

    a cover or enclosure that protects a piece of equipment from above.

    a protective canopy or enclosure designed to shield machinery or provide ventilation, such as an extractor fan.

    Example

    Make sure the exhaust hood is turned on while you are cooking.

    Example

    The laboratory technician lowered the fume hood to ensure that no toxic gases escaped into the main workspace during the experiment.
  4. 6 to cover (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal

    to put a hood on something or someone.

    to cover or provide with a hood; often used in the context of falconry or concealing a prisoner's face.

    Example

    The falconer hooded the bird to keep it calm during the journey.

    Example

    The guards hooded the prisoner before transporting him to the undisclosed location to prevent him from identifying the route.
  5. 7 urban style (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Slang Informal

    relating to life in a tough city neighborhood.

    pertaining to the culture, lifestyle, or aesthetic of inner-city neighborhoods.

    Example

    He likes that hood style of music and clothing.

    Example

    The film was praised for its authentic portrayal of hood life without relying on tired cinematic clichés.
Etymology 1

From Middle English hood, hod, from Old English hōd, from Proto-West Germanic hōd, from Old English hōd, from Proto-Germanic hōdaz, from Proto-Indo-European *kadʰ- (“to cover”). See also Saterland Frisian Houd (“hat; hood”), West Frisian/Dutch hoed (“hat”), Cimbrian huat, huut (“hat”), German Hut (“hat”), German Low German Hood (“hat; hood”), Luxembourgish Hutt (“hat”); also Proto-Iranian *xawdaH (“hat”) (Avestan 𐬑𐬂𐬛𐬀 (xåda), Old Persian 𐎧𐎢𐎭 (x-u-d /⁠xaudā⁠/)). More at hat.

Etymology 2

Clipping of hoodlum.

Etymology 3

Clipping of neighborhood; compare nabe.

Etymology 4

Clipping of hoodie, influenced by existing sense “hoodlum”.

Word family

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