envelop
[ verb en-vel-uhp; noun en-vel-uhp, en-vuh-luhp, ahn- ]
/ verb ɛnˈvɛl əp; noun ɛnˈvɛl əp, ˈɛn və ləp, ˈɑn- /
verb (used with object), en·vel·oped, en·vel·op·ing.
to wrap up in or as in a covering: The long cloak she was wearing enveloped her completely.
to serve as a wrapping or covering for, as a membrane of an organ or a sheath.
to surround entirely.
Military. to attack (an enemy's flank).
noun
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Origin of envelop
1350–1400; Middle English envolupen<Old French envoluper, equivalent to en-en-1 + voloper to envelop, of obscure origin; compare Old Provençal (en)volopar,Italian inviluppare to envelop, Italian viluppo tuft, bundle, confusion, referred to Medieval Latin faluppa chaff, wisp of straw, perhaps influenced by the descendants of Latin volvere to roll
OTHER WORDS FROM envelop
en·vel·op·er, nounpre·en·vel·op, verb (used with object)un·en·vel·oped, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH envelop
envelop , envelopeWords nearby envelop
enunciate, enunciation, enure, enuresis, env., envelop, envelope, envelope chemise, envelopment, envenom, envenomation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for envelop
British Dictionary definitions for envelop
envelop
/ (ɪnˈvɛləp) /
verb -lops, -loping or -loped (tr)
to wrap or enclose in or as if in a covering
to conceal or obscure, as from sight or understandinga plan enveloped in mystery
to surround or partially surround (an enemy force)
Derived forms of envelop
envelopment, nounWord Origin for envelop
C14: from Old French envoluper, from en- 1 + voluper, voloper, of obscure origin
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