adj. & adv.
--adj.
1. of more than average height.
2 of a specified height (looks about six feet tall).
3 higher than the surrounding objects (a tall building).
4 colloq. extravagant or excessive (a tall story; tall talk).
--adv. as if tall; proudly; in a tall or extravagant way (sit tall).
Phrases and idioms:
tall drink a drink served in a tall glass. tall hat top hat (see TOP(1)). tall order an exorbitant or unreasonable demand. tall ship a sailing ship with a high mast.
Derivatives:
tallish adj. tallness n.
Etymology: ME, repr. OE get{aelig}l swift, prompt