What does wall mean?
A wall is a solid structure, usually vertical, that forms part of a building, room, enclosure, or fortification. It may be made from brick, stone, wood, plaster, concrete, or other materials, and can serve to support a roof, divide spaces, or mark the boundary of a property. The word also refers to the vertical or enclosing surfaces of a room and to broader boundaries, such as the wall between two countries or groups. Figuratively, a wall can be any obstacle that prevents communication, movement, or progress. As a verb, wall means to surround or protect something with a wall, or to block off a passage; it can also mean to stare fixedly at someone. The word is especially useful because it describes both a familiar physical feature and a wide range of barriers, including those created by institutions, customs, language, or personal difficulties.
A solid, usually vertical structure forming part of a building or enclosure; by extension, a boundary, barrier, or figurative limit.
"The builders constructed a high wall around the castle."
The noun is also used metaphorically for a barrier to movement, communication, or opportunity.
To surround, protect, or close off something with a wall; to obstruct or narrow a passage.
"The entrance had been walled off by years of rubble."
As an intransitive verb, wall can also mean to stare fixedly or expressionlessly at someone.
The plural is used for multiple physical walls, boundaries, or figurative barriers.
"The old houses were separated by narrow lanes and high walls."
A wall can keep people out, hold them in, or become the surface on which they paint what they want to change.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of wall
The English word descends from Old English w(e)all, used for a defensive or enclosing structure. It comes from a Germanic root that also appears in related forms such as Dutch wal and German Wall. The same broader root is reflected in words including wale and wallet, through the older sense of a raised ridge or bank.
Related word forms
How wall is actually used
Wall is common in both formal and informal English. Its figurative uses are especially frequent in discussion of politics, communication, and personal circumstances; expressions such as “off the wall” are informal.
Easily confused with wall
A wall is a structural barrier or boundary, whereas a well is a water source or a deep hole in the ground.
A wall is an architectural structure, while a whale is a large marine mammal.