gull

USAGE SUMMARY

"gull" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it as a noun to refer to a type of seabird, or as a verb to refer to the act of someone being duped or deceived. For example: "The gullible tourist was easily gulled into buying a worthless souvenir."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

7. Sir Toby calls Sir Andrew "an ass-head, and a coxcomb, and a knave, a thin-faced knave, a gull!" - a simpleton in Twelfth Night.

The Guardian

Seeing that gull chicks pecked at the yellow-orange dot on their parent's beak to make the parent regurgitate food for them, Tinbergen presented the chicks with even bigger yellow-orange dots.

The Guardian - Tech

The term was coined by Nobel prizewinner Niko Tinbergen in his study of herring gull behaviour.

The Guardian - Tech

A gull cawed overhead to cry good morning to this strange tented visitor, while the sea whispered in the distance.

The Guardian - Travel

Everything that Emilia says about Othello is so nearly the whole truth—"O gull!

The Economist

Then winter comes, and with it steel water, charred sky, a line of "frozen froth" framing a dead herring gull, its neck twisted, its wing "like a page printed with paragraphs" skim-read only by the wind.The real thrill of Ainsdale beach is, Ms Sprackland writes, the chance nature of her encounters with the "cargo of mysteries" delivered by each tide.

The Economist

They stand to gain, in one way or another, from conspiring to gull the public into regarding competition as a threat to the greater good, rather than to themselves.

The Economist

Though doorstep lending is now dominated by respectable listed companies, the idea persists that their agents are wicked people who gull customers with vouchers or food hampers.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

She studied the behaviour of black-headed gulls, buying gull-eggs in Leadenhall market in order to incubate them herself and put them in her aviary.

The Economist

THE gull-winged DeLorean DMC-12 resembles the car of the future, as imagined in the late 1970s.

The Economist

Fulmar, any of several species of gull-like oceanic birds of the family Procellariidae (order Procellariiformes), which also includes the petrels and the shearwaters.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the seabird, ensure the context is clear to avoid confusion with the meaning of deceiving someone.

Common error

Avoid using "gull" to mean deceive in formal writing, as it can sound archaic or informal. Opt for more precise synonyms like "deceive" or "defraud".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "gull" is a noun, referring to a type of seabird. It can also function as a transitive verb meaning to deceive. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Encyclopedias

34%

News & Media

64%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "gull" primarily functions as a noun referring to a seabird, but it can also serve as a verb meaning to deceive. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English, though the verbal form is less common in contemporary language. The term appears frequently in news and media, and encyclopedic contexts. While grammatically sound, using "gull" as a verb in formal writing might sound archaic, so consider alternatives like "deceive" or "defraud". When referring to the bird, ""seagull"" is an interchangeable and widely accepted synonym.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Seagull

Common synonym, emphasizes the bird's habitat.

Seabird

Focuses specifically on the bird aspect, omitting the deception meaning.

Dupe

Highlights the meaning of someone being easily tricked.

Cheat

Emphasizes the act of deceiving or defrauding.

Deceive

Synonym focuses on the act of misleading.

Trick

Highlights a specific instance of deception.

Defraud

Emphasizes the financial aspect of deception.

Hoodwink

Informal term for deceiving someone.

Swindle

Focuses on obtaining money or property by deception.

Victimize

Highlights the harm caused by deception.

FAQs

How can "gull" be used in a sentence?

"Gull" can be used as a noun to refer to a seabird, as in "A "gull" flew overhead". It can also be used as a verb meaning to deceive, though this usage is less common, as in "He tried to "gull" me into buying a fake watch".

What are some synonyms for "gull" when it means to deceive?

When "gull" means to deceive, you can use alternatives such as "dupe", "trick", "deceive", or "defraud", depending on the specific context.

Is it more common to use "gull" as a noun or a verb?

It is far more common to use "gull" as a noun to refer to a type of seabird. The verb form, meaning to deceive, is less frequently used in modern English.

Which is the best synonym for "gull" as a seabird?

The best synonym for "gull" when referring to the seabird is "seagull". They are often used interchangeably.