Question

Choose the one with the best meaning of MULL:
A) Recommend
B) Think
C) Punish
D) Provoke

Answer 1

Hint: Words having the same or similar meanings are called synonyms and one can find them in a special dictionary called a thesaurus. It tells us synonyms, origins, and the correct usage of various words. The word ‘MULL’ is a verb, i.e. it indicates an action being done. In this case, the action is mental.

Complete answer:
The word 'Mull' means ‘to think about something deeply or at length’. For example, She started to mull the different locations where she might schedule her journey. Now let us look at the following options and find which of these have the closest meaning to “mull”.

Now let us look into the given options:
Option A) 'Recommend' denotes a suggestion that someone or something is appropriate. For e.g. He recommended some great designs for the advertisement. This is not the correct meaning of ‘mull’, and hence this option is wrong.
Option b) 'Think' is to believe in something, to have an opinion, or to have an idea about something. This word has a meaning that is very similar to ‘mull’. For e.g. I think I broke my ankle when I fell. Hence, it is the right option.
Option c) ‘Punish’ refers to the treatment or penalty of someone who has done something wrong or committed a crime. For e.g. Anyone who does not abide by the rules of the school will be punished harshly. This option is incorrect.
Option D) 'Provoke' refers to the act of inducing a reaction, especially a negative one. For e.g. You cannot provoke me into doing that. This is the wrong option.

Thus, the correct answer is option (B) i.e, Think.

Note: Other synonyms of the word ‘mull’ are; consider, ponder, contemplate, etc. Other than ‘thinking’, the word ‘mull’ also has other meanings. It also refers to ‘a thin muslin cloth used in bookbinding’. It also refers to ‘humus that is formed under non-acidic conditions’.