HOODOO

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hoodoo mean? 

• HOODOO (noun)
  The noun HOODOO has 4 senses:

1. (geology) a column of weathered and unusually shaped rock

2. a practitioner of voodoo

3. a charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers

4. something believed to bring bad luck

  Familiarity information: HOODOO used as a noun is uncommon.

• HOODOO (verb)
  The verb HOODOO has 1 sense:

1. bring bad luck; be a source of misfortune

  Familiarity information: HOODOO used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOODOO (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(geology) a column of weathered and unusually shaped rock

Classified under:

Nouns denoting two and three dimensional shapes

Context example:

a tall sandstone hoodoo

Hypernyms ("hoodoo" is a kind of...):

column; pillar; tower (anything that approximates the shape of a column or tower)

Domain category:

geology (a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A practitioner of voodoo

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("hoodoo" is a kind of...):

hoodooism; vodoun; voodoo; voodooism (a religious cult practiced chiefly in Caribbean countries (especially Haiti); involves witchcraft and animistic deities)

non-Christian priest; priest (a person who performs religious duties and ceremonies in a non-Christian religion)

Derivation:

hoodoo (bring bad luck; be a source of misfortune)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

fetich; fetish; hoodoo; juju; voodoo

Hypernyms ("hoodoo" is a kind of...):

charm; good luck charm (something believed to bring good luck)

Derivation:

hoodoo (bring bad luck; be a source of misfortune)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Something believed to bring bad luck

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("hoodoo" is a kind of...):

object; physical object (a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow)

Derivation:

hoodoo (bring bad luck; be a source of misfortune)

• HOODOO (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Bring bad luck; be a source of misfortune

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "hoodoo" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

hoodoo (something believed to bring bad luck)

hoodoo (a charm superstitiously believed to embody magical powers)

hoodoo (a practitioner of voodoo)