tall — having a greater height than what is normal or average
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: having a greater height than what is normal or average
Pronunciation (IPA): /tɔːl/
Example Sentences
- My basketball coach said I'm too tall for the team bus - I have to duck every time!
- The tall trees provided shade on the hot summer day.
- He's so tall that he uses his smartphone as a periscope in crowded places.
tall
ADJECTIVE[/tɔːl/]
having a greater height than what is normal or average
A tall basketball player towers over his shorter teammate
The tall player hears the call as leaves fall!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Old English 'getæl', meaning 'swift and agile'. Over time, the meaning evolved to denote 'straight and high', likely influenced by the image of agile animals stretching their legs to jump to greater heights.
Breakdown
getæl (swift, prompt) → tall (high). The semantic shift from 'swift' to 'tall' reflects a metaphorical extension where vertical extension became associated with the stretched posture of quick-moving creatures.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My basketball coach said I'm too tall for the team bus - I have to duck every time!”
“The tall trees provided shade on the hot summer day.”
“He's so tall that he uses his smartphone as a periscope in crowded places.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
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