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| v. hauled, haul·ing, hauls v. tr. 1. To pull or drag forcibly: They hauled the boat onto the beach. We hauled the wood into the shed. See Synonyms at pull. 2. To transport, as with a truck or cart: The contractor used a truck to haul away the dirt and debris. 3. a. To cause (oneself) to move, especially slowly or laboriously: I hauled myself down to the lobby. b. To compel to go, especially for trial: hauled their competitor into court. 4. Nautical To change the course of (a ship), especially in order to sail closer into the wind. v. intr. 1. To pull or drag something forcibly. 2. To provide transportation; cart. 3. To shift direction: The wind hauled to the east. 4. Nautical To change the course of a ship. n. Phrasal Verbs: 1. The act of pulling or dragging. 2. The act of transporting or carting. 3. A distance, especially the distance over which something is pulled or transported: a long haul across the country. 4. a. Something that is pulled or transported; a load. b. Everything collected or acquired at a single time; the take: a big haul of fish. haul offInformal 1. To draw back slightly, as in preparation for initiating an action: “hauled off and smacked the hapless aide across the face” (Bill Barol). 2. To withdraw or move to another place. haul out To move from water onto the shore: a beach where seals often haul out; canoeists who hauled out on the riverbank to rest. haul up Idiom: To come to a halt. haul assVulgar Slang To move quickly: We'll be late if you don't haul ass. [Middle English haulen, from Old French haler, of Germanic origin; see kelə-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] hauler n. |
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