■ 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 ~: a ~ 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 ~ brown .
■ verb enclose within ~s.
↘( ~ something up ) block or seal a place by building a ~.
↘( ~ someone in/up ) confine someone in a restricted or sealed place.
Phrases
drive someone (or go ) up the ~ informal make someone (or become) very irritated or angry.
go to the ~ informal (of a business) fail; go out of business.
hit the ~ (of an athlete) experience a sudden loss of energy in a long race.
off the ~ N. Amer. informal
1》 eccentric or unconventional.
2》 angry.
~-to-~ (of a carpet) fitted to cover an entire floor.
↘ informal very numerous or plentiful.
Derivatives
~ing noun
Origin
OE: from L. vallum 'rampart', from vallus 'stake'.