hood
noun · verb · adjective
Simple meaning
A covering for the head, usually attached to a larger garment such as a jacket or cloak.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
huudIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈhʊd
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A covering for the head, usually attached to a larger garment such as a jacket or cloak.
by extensionespecially in the phrase "under the hood"
A cover over the engine, driving machinery or inner workings of something.
falconry
A leather covering for a hawk's head
An enclosure that protects something, especially from above.
equestrianism
A head and neck covering placed on horses to protect against insects and sunlight, to slow coat growth and for warmth.
A distinctively colored fold of material, representing a university degree.
verb
intransitiveof skin and soft tissue
To grow over the eyelid but not the eye itself.
transitive
To extend out from (something), in the manner of a hood.
transitive
To cover (something) with a hood.
adjective
Relating to inner-city everyday life, both positive and negative aspects; especially people's attachment to and love for their neighborhoods.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A covering for the head, usually attached to a larger garment such as a jacket or cloak.
Used this way, hood is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Nearby words
- bonnet , used mainly in Regional English
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use hood
- “There are powerful engines under the hoods of new cars.”noun
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
A long overcoat with a hood that can be pulled over the head.
Orchid having dense clusters of gently spiraling creamy white flowers with 2 upper petals forming a hood.
Small North American duck with a high circular crest on the male's head.
Yellow-flowered pitcher plant of southeastern United States having trumpet-shaped leaves with the orifice covered with an arched hood.
Medium-sized blackish-grey seal with large inflatable sac on the head.
Small North American duck with a high circular crest on the male's head.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: covering for the head
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.