Hail has 14 different meanings across 4 categories:
Noun · Verb · Intj · Proper Noun
precipitation of ice pellets when there are strong rising air currents
"The sudden hailstorm battered the windshield, forcing us to pull over into a nearby shelter."
Balls or pieces of ice falling as precipitation, often in connection with a thunderstorm.
"The children ran inside just as hail began to fall from the dark storm clouds."
In plain English: Hail is frozen raindrops that fall from the sky like chunks of ice.
"The gardeners rushed inside as hail began to pummel their vegetable patch."
Of hail, to fall from the sky.
"The crowd hailed the returning champion with loud cheers and waving flags."
to greet; give salutation to; salute.
In plain English: To hail means to cheerfully welcome or greet someone.
"The new CEO was welcomed with enthusiastic applause as she hailed her team."
Usage: Use "hail" when describing balls of ice falling during a storm rather than general rain or snow. You can also use it as an imperative verb meaning to call out enthusiastically in greeting someone.
Healthy, whole, safe.
"The old oak tree stood hale and hearty after surviving the fierce winter storm."
In plain English: Hail means strong and undamaged.
"After a hail of criticism, the company revised its policies."
An exclamation of respectful or reverent salutation, or, occasionally, of familiar greeting.
"The crowd hailed the returning hero with cheers and waving flags."
A surname.
"The renowned physicist Dr. Hail conducted groundbreaking research on quantum mechanics at CERN."
The word hail comes from Old English, where it originally meant the frozen raindrops that fall in winter. Although its exact roots are uncertain, linguists believe it may have evolved from an ancient term meaning "pebble" or possibly related to words for cold weather.