hood
huud
Hood (noun) means a loose covering for the head, often part of a jacket or coat. Example: “The child's coat had a fluffy hood that kept her ears warm.”
noun
1
A loose covering for the head, often part of a jacket or coat.
"The child's coat had a fluffy hood that kept her ears warm."
"She pulled up her hood as the rain started."
"The falcon wore a small leather hood to keep it calm."
2
The hinged panel covering a car engine (called a "bonnet" in British English).
"The mechanic lifted the hood and checked the oil."
"I forgot to close the hood properly, and it popped open on the road."
"Smoke was coming from under the hood."
3
Informal: a neighbourhood, especially a poor or inner-city one.
"Everyone in the hood knows the corner shop owner by name."
"She moved away, but she still visits her old hood every summer."
"He grew up in a rough hood on the south side of the city."
verb
1
To cover something with a hood.
"The handler hooded the bird before carrying it to the car."
"She hooded the lamp with a scarf to soften the light."
"They hooded the falcon before the flight."
How to use hood
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA covering for the head or an engine, or slang for a neighbourhood.
UK vs US
American English "hood" (car part) = British English "bonnet".
Common pairings
pull up the hood
open the hood
from the hood
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like hood.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- hoods
- Third person singular
- hoods
- Past tense
- hooded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The child's coat had a fluffy _____ that kept her ears warm.
Etymology
From Old English hōd, related to German Hut ("hat") — all ultimately from a root meaning "to cover."
Related words
Rhymes for hood
See all rhymes for hood →Frequently asked questions
What does “hood” mean?
The word “hood” means a loose covering for the head, often part of a jacket or coat. In plain terms, a covering for the head or an engine, or slang for a neighbourhood.
How do you pronounce “hood”?
“Hood” is pronounced huud (/hʊd/ in IPA).
How do you use “hood” in a sentence?
Here is “hood” used in a sentence: “She pulled up her hood as the rain started.”
What part of speech is “hood”?
Depending on how it is used, “hood” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “hood” come from?
The word “hood” comes from Old English. From Old English hōd, related to German Hut ("hat") — all ultimately from a root meaning "to cover.".
Is “hood” a common word?
“Hood” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “hood” have?
“Hood” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a loose covering for the head, often part of a jacket or coat.
What is the difference between a hood and a bonnet?
In American English, the hood is the hinged panel that covers a car's engine. In British English, that same panel is called a bonnet. When talking about clothing, both varieties of English use 'hood' for the head covering.
What is the difference between a hood and a hoodie?
A hood is the loose covering pulled over the head, often attached to a jacket or coat. A hoodie is the whole garment, a sweatshirt or top that has a hood attached to it.
What is the difference between a hood and a hat or cap?
A hood is a soft covering, usually attached to a coat or jacket, that is pulled up over the head. A hat or cap is a separate item worn on the head and not joined to any other garment.
Is a car's hood called a hood in British English?
No. In British English the panel over a car's engine is called a bonnet, not a hood. The word 'hood' for that part is chiefly American English.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include hood:
