handwriting on the wall

An upright structure of masonry, wood, plaster, or other building material serving to enclose, divide, or protect an area, especially a vertical construction forming an inner partition or exterior siding of a building.

A continuous structure of masonry or other material forming a rampart and built for defensive purposes. Often used in the plural.

A structure of stonework, cement, or other material built to retain a flow of water.

1. Something resembling a wall in appearance, function, or construction, as the exterior surface of a body organ or part: the abdominal wall.

2. Something resembling a wall in impenetrability or strength: a wall of silence; a wall of fog.

3. An extreme or desperate condition or position, such as defeat or ruin: driven to the wall by poverty.

Sports The vertical surface of an ocean wave in surfing.

To enclose, surround, or fortify with or as if with a wall: wall up an old window. See Synonyms at enclose.

To divide or separate with or as if with a wall. Often used with off: wall off half a room.

To confine or seal behind a wall; immure: "I determined to wall [the body] up in the cellar" (Edgar Allan Poe).

To block or close (an opening or passage, for example) with or as if with a wall.