(slang) a neighborhood
"The new coffee shop is finally opening up on the hood, and everyone's already talking about it."
(falconry) a leather covering for a hawk's head
"The falconer gently pulled the hood over the hawk's eyes to calm her before releasing her into the sky."
metal covering leading to a vent that exhausts smoke or fumes
"The mechanic tightened the hood on the furnace's exhaust pipe before turning it back on."
the folding roof of a carriage
"The driver pulled back the hood to reveal the passengers inside the vintage carriage as it approached the station."
a headdress that protects the head and face
"The child pulled up his hood to shield himself from the driving rain as they walked through the park."
(zoology) an expandable part or marking that resembles a hood on the head or neck of an animal
"The male frilled lizard displays its dramatic, circular hood to scare off predators."
A covering for the head attached to a larger garment such as a jacket or cloak.
"The hooded figure slipped through the back door before anyone noticed him."
Gangster, thug.
Neighborhood.
Person wearing a hoodie.
In plain English: A hood is the part of a jacket that goes over your head to keep you dry or warm.
"She pulled up her hood to protect herself from the rain."
Usage: Use "hood" to refer specifically to the head covering worn by someone in a hooded sweatshirt, not to the garment itself or other types of hats. You might say, "He pulled his hood up against the rain," but avoid using it to mean the entire hoodie unless you are referring only to the fabric part covering the head.
To cover something with a hood.
"She pulled her coat up to cover her face from the harsh wind."
In plain English: To hood someone means to cover their head with a cloth or blanket so they cannot see.
"The old man will hood the new recruit in the dark alley before the ceremony begins."
Usage: As a verb, hood means to place a hood over someone's head or an object, such as draping a cloth over a lamp. Use this term specifically when describing the physical act of covering rather than referring to the garment itself.
Relating to inner-city everyday life, both positive and negative aspects; especially people’s attachment to and love for their neighborhoods.
"After years of fighting crime in his block, Marcus finally felt the deep pride that comes from truly loving your hood."
In plain English: Hood describes something that is very bad, unpleasant, or likely to cause trouble.
"The hooded jacket kept her warm during the rain."
Usage: Use "hood" as an adjective informally to describe things connected to the gritty realities or strong community spirit of inner-city neighborhoods. Reserve this usage for casual conversation rather than formal writing to maintain its authentic, street-level tone.
A surname.
"The new manager, Hood, introduced himself at the morning meeting."
The word "hood" comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *kadʰ-, which meant "to cover." It traveled into English through Old English, where it originally referred to a covering for the head rather than just a specific garment type today.