noun

sill

sihl

Sill (noun) means the horizontal ledge at the base of a window or door frame. Example: “She set the plant pot on the windowsill.”

noun

The horizontal ledge at the base of a window or door frame.

"She set the plant pot on the windowsill."

"Rain had rotted the wooden sill under the kitchen window."

(geology) A flat sheet of igneous rock that has forced its way between existing layers of rock underground.

"Geologists found a dolerite sill running beneath the hillside."

How to use sill

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe ledge at the bottom of a window, or a flat underground rock layer in geology.

Common pairings

window sill door sill sill plate

Word forms

more sill comparative, sills plural, sills plural, sills plural, Sills plural, most sill superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

Rain had rotted the wooden _____ under the kitchen window.

Etymology

From Old English syll, "threshold, foundation," related to Old Norse svill and, more distantly, to Latin silva, "forest."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for sill

ill kill mill bill will till hill fill Jill dill gill pill

See all rhymes for sill →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sill” mean?

The word “sill” means the horizontal ledge at the base of a window or door frame. In plain terms, the ledge at the bottom of a window, or a flat underground rock layer in geology.

How do you pronounce “sill”?

“Sill” is pronounced sihl (/sɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “sill” in a sentence?

Here is “sill” used in a sentence: “She set the plant pot on the windowsill.”

What part of speech is “sill”?

“Sill” is a noun.

Where does the word “sill” come from?

The word “sill” comes from Latin. From Old English syll, "threshold, foundation," related to Old Norse svill and, more distantly, to Latin silva, "forest.".

How many meanings does “sill” have?

“Sill” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the horizontal ledge at the base of a window or door frame.