Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - haul

~1 v 1 I always + adv/prep, to pull something heavy with a continuous, steady movement  (haul sth along/in/across etc)  (The fishermen were hauling in their nets.) 2 haul sb over the coals to speak to someone angrily and severely because they have done something wrong 3 to carry goods in a vehicle 4 haul yourself up/out of etc a) to succeed in achieving a higher position in society, in a competition etc  (He hauled himself out of the gutter and became the world heavyweight champion.) b) to pull yourself up, out of etc  (I see you've managed to haul yourself out of bed.) 5 haul off and hit/punch sb AmE informal to hit someone very hard 6 haul ass AmE slang to hurry haul sb up phr v T usually passive informal to officially bring someone to a court of law to be judged  (Campbell was hauled up in front of the magistrate.) ~2 n 1 a large amount of goods that has been stolen, or found by the police  (The robbers' haul included a very valuable diamond ring. | Police announced a drugs haul worth two million pounds.) 2 long/slow haul something that takes a lot of time and effort  (it's been a long haul)  (At last we've won our freedom but it's been a long bitter haul.) 3 the amount of fish caught when fishing with a net  (- see also long­haul, short­haul)