gull

/gəl/

/gəl/

Other forms: gulls; gulled; gulling

You know those birds that hang out by the ocean, and grab your sandwich if you aren't paying attention? Those are gulls, also known as sea gulls. Gulls are found in every continent, including Antarctica.

The noun gull has two very distinct definitions. Gulls are shore birds, of course, but lesser-used meaning of the word is "a person who is easy to fool." Your little brother might be a gull if you can trick him into doing your chores along with his own. You may know the related word gullible, which describes a willingness to believe anything, without questioning whether it is true.

Definitions of gull

1. noun

   mostly white aquatic bird having long pointed wings and short legs
   synonyms: sea gull, seagull

   types:

   Larus canus, mew, mew gull, sea mew

   the common gull of Eurasia and northeastern North America

   Larus marinus, black-backed gull, cob, great black-backed gull

   white gull having a black back and wings

   Larus argentatus, herring gull

   large gull of the northern hemisphere

   Larus ridibundus, blackcap, laughing gull, pewit, pewit gull

   small black-headed European gull

   Pagophila eburnea, ivory gull

   white Arctic gull; migrates as far south as England and New Brunswick

   kittiwake

   small pearl-grey gull of northern regions; nests on cliffs and has a rudimentary hind toe

   type of:

   larid

   long-winged web-footed aquatic bird of the gull family
2. noun

   a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
   synonyms: chump, fall guy, fool, mark, mug, patsy, soft touch, sucker

   type of:

   dupe, pigeon, victim

   a person who is easily tricked or swindled
3. verb

   fool or hoax
   synonyms: befool, cod, dupe, fool, put on, put one across, put one over, slang, take in

   types:

   kid, pull the leg of

   tell false information to for fun

   type of:

   betray, deceive, lead astray

   cause someone to believe an untruth
4. verb

   make a fool or dupe of
   synonyms: befool, fool

   type of:

   cozen, deceive, delude, lead on

   be false to; be dishonest with