wall

noun

1》 a continuous vertical brick or stone structure that encloses or divides an area of land.

    ↘a side of a building or room.

2》 a protective or restrictive barrier likened to a wall: a wall of silence.

3》 Soccer a line of defenders forming a barrier against a free kick taken near the penalty area.

4》 Anatomy & Zoology the membranous outer layer or lining of an organ or cavity.

5》 Mining the rock enclosing a lode or seam.

6》 another term for wall brown.

verb enclose within walls.

↘(wall something up) block or seal a place by building a wall.

↘(wall someone in/up) confine someone in a restricted or sealed place.

Phrases

drive someone (or go) up the wall informal make someone (or become) very irritated or angry.

go to the wall informal (of a business) fail; go out of business.

hit the wall (of an athlete) experience a sudden loss of energy in a long race.

off the wall N. Amer. informal

1》 eccentric or unconventional.

2》 angry.

wall-to-wall (of a carpet) fitted to cover an entire floor.

↘informal very numerous or plentiful.

Derivatives

walling noun

Origin

OE: from L. vallum 'rampart', from vallus 'stake'.