Hood

UK: /ˈhʊd/ US: /hʊd/ ,(hŏŏd; also for 'hoodlum,' ho̅o̅d)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Hood / hʊd/ noun

1. Robin. See Robin Hood
2. Samuel, 1st Viscount. 1724–1816, British admiral. He fought successfully against the French during the American Revolution and the French Revolutionary Wars
3. Thomas. 1799–1845, British poet and humorist: his work includes protest poetry, such as The Song of the Shirt (1843) and The Bridge of Sighs (1844)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

hood¹ /hʊd/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing a soft or flexible covering for the head and neck:
   I pulled up my hood when it started to snow.
2. Botany something resembling this, esp. in shape, as the covering of a baby carriage.
3. Automotive the hinged movable part at the front of an automobile body covering the engine.

v. [~ + object]

4. to cover with or as if with a hood.

hood•ed, adj. 

hood² /hʊd/   n. [countable] [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms a hoodlum.

hood³ /hʊd/   n. [countable] [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms a neighborhood.

-hood, suffix. 

1. • -hood is used to form nouns with the meaning "the state or condition of'':
     likely + -hood → likelihood (= the state or condition of being likely);
     child + -hood → childhood (= the state or period of time of being a child).
   • -hood is also used to form nouns with the meaning "a body or group of persons of a particular character or class'':
     priest + -hood → priesthood (= a body of priests).

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

hood¹  (hŏŏd), n. 

1. Clothing a soft or flexible covering for the head and neck, either separate or attached to a cloak, coat, or the like.
2. Botany something resembling or suggesting such a covering, esp. in shape, as certain petals or sepals.
3. Automotive the hinged, movable part of an automobile body covering the engine.
4. British Terms the roof of a carriage.
5. a metal cover or canopy for a stove, ventilator, etc.
6. Sport [Falconry.] a cover for the entire head of a hawk, used when the bird is not in pursuit of game.
7. an ornamental ruffle or fold on the back of the shoulders of an academic gown, jurist's robe, etc.
8. Zoology a crest or band of color on the head of certain birds and animals.

v.t. 

9. to furnish with a hood.
10. to cover with or as if with a hood.

• bef. 900; 1925–30, American. for def. 3; Middle English hode, Old English hōd; cognate with Old Frisian hōde, Dutch hoed, German Hut hat

hood′less, adj. 
hood′like′, adj. 

hood²  (hŏŏd, ho̅o̅d), n. [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms a hoodlum.

• by shortening 1925–30

'hood  (hŏŏd), n. 

1. Slang Terms neighborhood.

• by shortening 1985–90

Hood  (hŏŏd), n. 

1. Biographical John Bell, 1831–79, Confederate general in the U.S. Civil War.
Raymond Math•ew•son  (math′yo̅o̅ sən), 1881–1934, U.S. architect.
2. Biographical Robin. See Robin Hood. 
3. Biographical Thomas, 1799–1845, English poet and humorist.
4. Place Names Mount, a volcanic peak in N Oregon, in the Cascade Range. 11,253 ft. (3430 m).

-hood, 

1. a native English suffix denoting state, condition, character, nature, etc., or a body of persons of a particular character or class, formerly used in the formation of nouns:
   childhood;
   knighthood;
   priesthood.

• Middle English -hode, -hod, Old English -hād (cognate with German -heit), special use of hād condition, state, order, quality, rank

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hood / hʊd/ noun

1. a loose head covering either attached to a cloak or coat or made as a separate garment
2. something resembling this in shape or use
3. the US and Canadian name for bonnet3
4. the folding roof of a convertible car
5. a hoodlike garment worn over an academic gown, indicating its wearer's degree and university
6. a structure or marking, such as the fold of skin on the head of a cobra, that covers or appears to cover the head or some similar part

verb

1. (transitive) to cover or provide with or as if with a hood

Etymology: Old English hōd; related to Old High German huot hat, Middle Dutch hoet, Latin cassis helmet; see hat

ˈhoodˌlike adjective

hood / hʊd/ noun

1. 
   short for hoodlum1

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

-hood suffix:forming_nouns

1. indicating state or condition of being: manhood, adulthood
2. indicating a body of persons: knighthood, priesthood

Etymology: Old English -hād