ceiling
Americannoun
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ceilings
plural
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the overhead interior surface of a room.
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the top limit imposed by law on the amount of money that can be charged or spent or the quantity of goods that can be produced or sold.
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Aeronautics.
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the maximum altitude from which the earth can be seen on a particular day, usually equal to the distance between the earth and the base of the lowest cloud bank.
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Also called absolute ceiling. the maximum altitude at which a particular aircraft can operate under specified conditions.
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Meteorology. the height above ground level of the lowest layer of clouds that cover more than half of the sky.
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a lining applied for structural reasons to a framework, especially in the interior surfaces of a ship or boat.
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Also called ceiling piece. Theater. the ceiling or top of an interior set, made of cloth, a flat, or two or more flats hinged together.
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the act or work of a person who makes or finishes a ceiling.
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vaulting, as in a medieval church.
idioms
noun
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the inner upper surface of a room
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an upper limit, such as one set by regulation on prices or wages
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( as modifier )
ceiling prices
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the upper altitude to which an aircraft can climb measured under specified conditions See also service ceiling absolute ceiling
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meteorol the highest level in the atmosphere from which the earth's surface is visible at a particular time, usually the base of a cloud layer
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a wooden or metal surface fixed to the interior frames of a vessel for rigidity
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of ceiling
1350–1400, ceiling for def. 7; Middle English; see ceil, -ing 1
Explanation
A ceiling is the upper surface of a room. If you’re lying on the floor, you’re staring up at the ceiling. If you’re lying on the ceiling, you’ll be lying on the floor again soon. You may have heard the sky’s the limit — but in truth, the limit is the ceiling, both physically and metaphorically. The top of a room, but still under the roof, a ceiling is the point at which you can go no farther. You’ll find both helium balloons and hot tempers hitting it. In the workplace, if you aren't getting that promotion and can't understand why, you might have hit a "glass ceiling."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“For a system that believes it is fighting for survival…existential threats tend to harden resolve, not impose a price ceiling on resistance.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
"Therefore, investing in or owning an English football club provides a cheaper entry point with potential for a higher growth ceiling and more international reach."
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Pras: Wirtz's creative quality gives him a high points ceiling if the system clicks under new manager Andoni Iraola, where he will be a lot closer to the goal.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
It features floor-to-ceiling windows, which frame the majestic views, as well as a cozy marble fireplace and vaulted ceiling.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
In their place, great garlands of sticks and leaves hung above him, as though a tree were growing upside down from the ceiling.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Overlapping action figures, posters and teddy bears also cover Martin's walls and ceilings – his collectables consist of "anything unusual", but he's mostly inspired by Hollywood.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Thirty-foot glass doors open up onto the Trojans’ practice field from a 12,000-square-foot weight room with towering vaulted ceilings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
The mall in the town of Kashima was apparently gutted by a gas explosion, a government source told the Kyodo news agency, collapsing ceilings and walls.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
The main living space in the dwelling features hardwood vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and a cozy wood-burning fireplace, while the spacious kitchen has plenty of room for a dining area.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
The house was airy and windowed, with double-height ceilings in the living and dining rooms.
From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
