hail
/heɪl/noun
Small balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain, often during thunderstorms.
Example sentences
- “The hail dented several cars parked on the street.”
- “Golf-ball-sized hail smashed the roof of the greenhouse.”
The verb senses are busier than the weather: you hail a taxi, hail an achievement as a triumph, and hail from your hometown. 'Within hailing distance' means close enough to shout.