: a unit of liquid capacity equal to four fluid ounces see Weights and Measures Table
1
: an organ (as of a fish) for obtaining oxygen from water
2
a
b
: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws
—usually used in plural
c
: one of the radiating plates forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom fungus
gilled; gilling; gills
of fish
: to become entangled in a gill net
giller
noun
Synonyms
Examples of gill in a Sentence
Noun (3)
a narrow gill in the Cumbrian Mountains of the Lake District
a narrow but surprisingly deep gill runs the length of the rocky gorge
Noun (4)
every Jack must have his Gill
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2024
The crowd, despite being packed to the gills, was dead silent at moments, simply transfixed by what was taking place in front of them.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
One quick incision near the gills to bleed the fish will keep the meat fresh and untainted.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 May 2024
The tail of a crayfish contains less ionic lithium than its gastrointestinal tract, gills, and hepatopancreas.
—Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
The singer, who released two albums on Hollywood Records early in her career, showed off her performance chops throughout by expertly ruling the stage in the peach-colored costume with a towering mohawk and diaphanous gills.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Frogs and toads go from being tadpoles who only have gills to growing lungs.
—Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2024
These adorable and aquatic salamanders resemble cheerful Muppets with their wide eyes and frilly gills.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024
But perhaps more tantalizingly, a partial set of jaws and gills of this species still rests within Mammoth Cave, too fragile for excavation.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
Noun
This type of aquatic salamander lacks gills as an adult and instead absorbs oxygen through its skin.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 24 May 2024
The crowd, despite being packed to the gills, was dead silent at moments, simply transfixed by what was taking place in front of them.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2024
One quick incision near the gills to bleed the fish will keep the meat fresh and untainted.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 16 May 2024
The tail of a crayfish contains less ionic lithium than its gastrointestinal tract, gills, and hepatopancreas.
—Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024
The singer, who released two albums on Hollywood Records early in her career, showed off her performance chops throughout by expertly ruling the stage in the peach-colored costume with a towering mohawk and diaphanous gills.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Frogs and toads go from being tadpoles who only have gills to growing lungs.
—Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2024
These adorable and aquatic salamanders resemble cheerful Muppets with their wide eyes and frilly gills.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024
But perhaps more tantalizingly, a partial set of jaws and gills of this species still rests within Mammoth Cave, too fragile for excavation.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Gill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gill. Accessed 31 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gill
2 of 2 noun1
: an organ (as of a fish) of thin plates or threadlike processes for obtaining oxygen from water
2
: the flesh under or about the chin or jaws
—usually used in plural
3
: one of the plates arranged in a circle and forming the undersurface of the cap of a mushroom
Medical Definition
gill
1 of 2 noun
: either of two units of capacity:
a
: a British unit equal to ¹/₄ imperial pint or 8.669 cubic inches
b
: a United States liquid unit equal to ¹/₄ United States liquid pint or 7.218 cubic inches
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