US /ˈhætˌfʊl/ UK /ˈhætfʊl/
noun Freq #108748

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    the amount that a hat can hold

    The child gathered a hatful of fallen apples.

  2. 2
    noun

    an informal term for a large number or amount of something

    The repair caused a hatful of unexpected problems.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · the amount that a hat can hold hatload
2 noun · an informal term for a... lotabundancegreat deal
Opposites
Word family
Forms hatfuls
Related forms hathandfulspoonful

Etymology

Formed from hat and -ful, a suffix used in nouns for the amount that a container can hold. Its figurative sense developed from the image of a hat filled with many things.

Topics

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