mull
mull — idiom
1. an island off the west coast of Scotland, part of the Inner Hebrides, known for
an island off the west coast of Scotland, part of the Inner Hebrides, known for its rugged landscape, wildlife, and historic castles
The ferry from Oban reaches the Isle of Mull in about forty-five minutes.
Scottish island; proper noun entry
Nora spent her summer holiday hiking across the Isle of Mull and watching golden eagles.
Visitors to Mull often take a boat trip to see the basalt columns on Staffa island.
Yael's photographs of the misty Isle of Mull won a travel photography award.
用法筆記
The Isle of Mull is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides. It is normally referred to with the definite article: "the Isle of Mull" or simply "Mull."
mull — noun
1. a very light, thin fabric woven from fibres like cotton and silk, often used for
a very light, thin fabric woven from fibres like cotton and silk, often used for scarves, curtains, summer dresses, and lightweight linings
Élise chose a pale blue mull fabric for her summer dress because it was light and breathable.
collocation: mull fabric
The tailor lined the jacket with cotton mull so it would not feel heavy in warm weather.
Lukas hung white mull curtains in the window to let soft, filtered light into the room.
Scarves made of silk mull are popular in hot climates because they are so lightweight.
2. a loose, crumbly layer of partly decayed leaves and other organic matter that ha
a loose, crumbly layer of partly decayed leaves and other organic matter that has mixed with the top layer of mineral soil on a forest floor
Under the oak trees the forest floor was covered with a dark, rich layer of mull.
context: forest soil layer
Nila dug into the mull and found crumbly soil mixed with bits of dead leaves and twigs.
Mull forms slowly as fungi, bacteria, and insects break down plant material on the woodland floor.
The ecologist explained that mull differs from peat because it contains more mineral soil mixed with organic matter.
- humus
the general term for decayed organic matter in soil; mull is a specific type of humus
用法筆記
This is a specialist term used in soil science and ecology. It contrasts with "mor," which is an acidic humus layer that does not mix with the mineral soil beneath.
3. a solid substance that has been ground into very fine particles, especially when
a solid substance that has been ground into very fine particles, especially when it is mixed into a liquid to form a suspension
The chemist prepared a mull of the dried leaves by grinding them with a small amount of oil.
technical: ground solid mixed with liquid
Rafael examined the pigment mull under a microscope to check the size of the particles.
The artist used a mull of charcoal and linseed oil as a base for the painting.
Jiwoo created a mull of the mineral powder in the lab for spectroscopic analysis of its composition.
- suspension
any mixture of solid particles dispersed in a liquid; broader than mull
- slurry
a semi-liquid mixture of solid and liquid; typically thicker and more fluid than a mull
用法筆記
In chemistry, a "mull" specifically refers to a finely ground solid suspended in a liquid medium. In infrared spectroscopy, a "Nujol mull" is a standard technique for analyzing solid samples.
mull — verb
1. to warm wine, cider, or fruit juice together with sweetener and aromatic flavour
to warm wine, cider, or fruit juice together with sweetener and aromatic flavourings such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg for a hot festive beverage
Every December, the Watanabe family mulls a large pot of red wine with cinnamon and orange peel.
transitive: mull + wine + with [spices]
Christopher mulled some apple cider for the party and served it hot with star anise.
The recipe says to mull the wine gently over low heat without boiling it.
Defne bought a mulling spices kit to make warm drinks during the winter holidays.
Sumin had never tried mulled wine before visiting the Christmas market in Vienna.
- spice
a broader term for adding spices; mulling specifically involves heating with sugar and spices
文法句型
mull + noun (wine, cider, juice) [+ with spices]
用法筆記
Usually describes the preparation of a festive hot drink. The past participle "mulled" (as in "mulled wine," "mulled cider") is very common as an adjective.
常見錯誤
2. to spend time thinking carefully about something, turning it over in your mind b
to spend time thinking carefully about something, turning it over in your mind before reaching a conclusion or making a decision
Hari spent the weekend mulling over whether to accept the job offer in Singapore.
phrasal: mull over + whether-clause
Before replying to the email, Apinya mulled the proposal for several days.
transitive: mull + object (without 'over')
The committee met twice to mull over the budget cuts and their likely impact on staff.
Obi sat by the river, quietly mulling the question his daughter had asked him about honesty.
Gabriela mulled over the feedback from her professor before deciding how to revise her thesis.
- ponder
more formal; suggests deep, serious thought about a philosophical or complex matter
- ruminate
suggests repetitive, often anxious thinking; stronger and more literary than "mull"
- deliberate
emphasises careful, logical consideration, especially in a group or formal setting
- dismiss
to decide not to think about something any further
文法句型
mull over + noun phrase (idea, question, problem)
mull + noun phrase + over
用法筆記
Often used with "over" (mull something over), though the particle can be dropped in more formal writing. The object is usually an idea, question, problem, or decision — something that requires time to think through. The feeling is one of quiet, patient reflection rather than hurried analysis.