Hoods

hʊdz

nounBeginner📊CommonClothing/Parts
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A covering for the head and neck, often attached to a coat or jacket. Also, the metal covering over a car's engine.

hʊdz

nounneutralBeginner
Clothing/Parts

A covering for the head and neck.

She pulled up her hood to shield herself from the rain.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're cold and need to cover your head! A hood is like a built-in hat on your jacket. Or, it can be the part of your car that covers the engine.

👶 For kids: A hood is like a hat that's attached to a jacket, or the cover on a car that hides the engine.

More Examples

2

The mechanic opened the hood to diagnose the engine problem.

3

The hoodie he wore had a large hood.

4

The car's hood was dented in the accident.

How It's Used

Fashion

"The coats all had fur-lined hoods."

Automotive

"He lifted the hood of the car to check the engine."

2

Slang for a neighborhood or district, often used to refer to a specific area within a larger city, especially one with a particular demographic or social characteristics.

hʊdz

nouninformalmedium
Location/Condition

A state or condition.

He grew up in the rougher hoods of the city.

💡 Simply: Think about your neighborhood! 'Hoods' is slang for that place, often used to describe a specific part of a city with its own vibe and people.

👶 For kids: A hood is like a special neighborhood where people live.

More Examples

2

The local youth center serves the needs of several hoods.

3

The concert brought people from all different hoods together.

4

She spent her youth running around the hoods of her city.

How It's Used

Slang

"Living in the 'hood means knowing your neighbors."

Sociology

"The documentary explored the social dynamics of various hoods."

Tip:Imagine wearing a 'hood' like a protective shell around your neighborhood.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

in the hood

Residing in or belonging to a specific neighborhood.

"He is in the hood tonight."

under the hood

Refers to what is happening unseen; the inner workings or mechanisms of something, especially in reference to technology or systems.

"Let's take a look under the hood of the new software."

From Middle English *hod*, from Old English *hōd* ('hood, covering for the head'). Related to German *Hut* and Dutch *hoed*.

The word 'hood' has been used since Old English, initially referring to a head covering. Its application to cars is more modern.

Memory tip

Think of Little Red Riding Hood – the hood protects the head.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"covering for the head"

car hoodjacket hoodhood uphood downthe hoods

Common misspellings

hoodhuuds

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written