maul /mɔːl/verb 5noun 3forms 3 verb5 •To handle someone or something in a rough way. •To savage; to cause serious physical wounds.The bear mauled him in a terrible way. •(figurative) To criticise harshly.The latest film by the Cohen brothers was mauled by the press, and was a box-office flop to boot. •(slang) To play rough, to fondle intensively.28 year old big, burly, bearded grizzly looking for other bears to maul me! Facial/body hair, brains a plus! — 1990 •To beat with a maul. noun3 •A heavy long-handled hammer, used for splitting logs by driving a wedge into them, or in combat. •A situation where the player carrying the ball, who must be on his feet, is held by one or more opponents, and one or more of the ball carrier's team mates bind onto the ball carrier. •The fruit of the Washingtonia species. formsmauled · mauling · mauls