: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see Weights and Measures Table
1
: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water
2
a
b
: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws
—usually used in plural
c
: one of the radiating plates forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom fungus
gilled; gilling; gills
of fish
: to become entangled in a gill net
giller
noun
Synonyms
Examples of gill in a Sentence
Noun (3)
a narrow gill in the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District
a narrow but surprisingly deep gill runs the length of the rocky gorge
Noun (4)
every Jack must have his Gill
Recent Examples on the Web
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Once free of the stomach, the eel would poke its tail from the gills and undulate until the rest of its body emerged.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024
Thirty-two of the eels were eaten, and of those, 13 (or 40.6 percent) managed to poke at least their tails through the gills of their predator.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2024
The species earn this name from their external gill formations that take oxygen from the water.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 July 2024
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Noun
Tazewell previously told Variety about how the underside of mushrooms (aka mushroom gills) inspired his designs for Elphaba’s witch dress.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024
Once free of the stomach, the eel would poke its tail from the gills and undulate until the rest of its body emerged.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024
Thirty-two of the eels were eaten, and of those, 13 (or 40.6 percent) managed to poke at least their tails through the gills of their predator.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 10 Sep. 2024
The species earn this name from their external gill formations that take oxygen from the water.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gill
Articles Related to gill
Dictionary Entries Near gill
Cite this Entry
“Gill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gill. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gill
2 of 2 noun1
: an organ (as of a fish) of thin plates or threadlike processes for obtaining oxygen from water
2
: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws
—usually used in plural
3
: one of the plates arranged in a circle and forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom
Medical Definition
gill
1 of 2 noun
: either of two units of capacity:
a
: a British unit equal to ¹/₄ imperial pint or 8.669 cubic inches
b
: a United States liquid unit equal to ¹/₄ United States liquid pint or 7.218 cubic inches
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