lull

[ luhl ]

verb (used with object)

1. to put to sleep or rest by soothing means:

   to lull a child by singing.

2. to soothe or quiet.
3. to give or lead to feel a false sense of safety; cause to be less alert, aware, or watchful.

verb (used without object)

1. to quiet down, let up, or subside:

   furious activity that finally lulled.

noun

1. a temporary calm, quiet, or stillness:

   a lull in a storm.

2. a soothing sound:

   the lull of falling waters.

3. a pacified or stupefied condition:

   The drug had put him in a lull.

lull

/ lʌl /

verb

1. to soothe (a person or animal) by soft sounds or motions (esp in the phrase lull to sleep )
2. to calm (someone or someone's fears, suspicions, etc), esp by deception

noun

1. a short period of calm or diminished activity

Derived Forms

• ˈlulling, adjective

Other Words From

• luller noun
• lulling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of lull¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English lullen, of expressive origin; compare Swedish lulla, German lullen, Latin lallāre “to sing a lullaby”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lull¹

C14: possibly imitative of crooning sounds; related to Middle Low German lollen to soothe, Middle Dutch lollen to talk drowsily, mumble

Related Words

• breather
• calmness
• hiatus
• hush
• layoff
• letup
• respite
• time-out