Word
hull
US/ˈhəɫ/
UK/hˈʌl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the main body or outer shell of a ship or boat. It is the part that sits in the water and keeps the vessel floating.
n. the main body of a ship or other vessel, including the bottom, sides, and deck but excluding masts, engines, and rigging. In a mathematical context, it refers to the smallest convex set containing a given set of points.
Examples
“The ship's hull is painted bright red.”
“Inspectors found several small cracks in the wooden hull that required immediate repair before the ship could sail.”
“Modern icebreakers are designed with a reinforced steel hull and a specific shape that allows the vessel to ride up onto the ice and crush it with its own weight.”
Examples
simple
“The ship's hull is painted bright red.”
contextual
“Inspectors found several small cracks in the wooden hull that required immediate repair before the ship could sail.”
complex
“Modern icebreakers are designed with a reinforced steel hull and a specific shape that allows the vessel to ride up onto the ice and crush it with its own weight.”
Usage
Commonly used in nautical contexts; in mathematics, it is often preceded by a descriptor like 'convex'.
Real-World Examples
“Scientists analyzing a 2,200-year-old Roman shipwreck found that its hull was coated with pine tar and, in one area, a mixture of tar and beeswax.” “By the time the Revolution began in the spring of 1775, Bushnell had nearly finished the hull of his invention.” Etymology
The town in England is Inherited from Middle English Hull, Hul, Hulle, traditionally derived from Proto-Brythonic hʉl, from Proto-Celtic soulos, from Proto-Indo-European sew- (“to press”); Breeze instead suggests derivation from hula, plural of hulu (“hut”). Chaucer's Hulle (for expected Hul, *Hule) is presumably a hypercorrect Southern form. The surname is either from the English town or Middle English hulle, western variant of hylle (“hill”); many other place names are ultimately from the surname.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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