coat

American  

[koht] / koʊt /

noun

1. an outer garment with sleeves, covering at least the upper part of the body.

   a new fur coat; a coat for formal wear.

2. a natural integument or covering, as the hair, fur, or wool of an animal, the bark of a tree, or the skin of a fruit.

3. a layer of anything that covers a surface.

   That wall needs another coat of paint.

4. a mucous layer covering or lining an organ or connected parts, as on the tongue.

5. coat of arms.

6. Archaic. a petticoat or skirt.

7. Obsolete.

   1. a garment indicating profession, class, etc.

   2. the profession, class, etc., so indicated.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cover with a layer or coating: The furniture was coated with dust.

   He coated the wall with paint.

   The furniture was coated with dust.

   Synonyms:

   encrust, smear, lay

2. to cover thickly, especially with a viscous fluid or substance.

   Heat the mixture until it coats a spoon. The boy was coated with mud from head to foot.

3. to cover or provide with a coat.

coat British  

/ kəʊt /

noun

1. an outdoor garment with sleeves, covering the body from the shoulder to waist, knee, or foot

2. any similar garment, esp one forming the top to a suit

3. a layer that covers or conceals a surface

   a coat of dust

4. the hair, wool, or fur of an animal

5. short for coat of arms

6. in disfavour

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verb

1. to cover (with) a layer or covering

2. (tr) to provide with a coat

Other Word Forms

• coater noun
• coatless adjective
• recoat verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of coat

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English cote, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Germanic; compare German Kotze, Old Saxon cott “woolen coat”

Example Sentences

To protect the devices from chemical reactions with cesium, the waveguides are coated with a protective layer.

From Science Daily

A deal would give it BlueScope’s North Star steel mill in Delta, Ohio, as well as some building and coated products businesses in North America.

From The Wall Street Journal

Carley cut a lonely figure in the dock, dressed in a long formal coat and shirt and tie.

From BBC

Gu said the same chemistry could lead to timed drug delivery capsules or coatings that erase themselves after a set period.

From Science Daily

Officers will be able to demand that migrants remove their coats to search for phones and also check their mouths for SIM cards.

From BBC

Related Words

• cloak
• frock
• jacket
• overcoat
• raincoat
• suit
• tuxedo
• windbreaker
• wrap