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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Nearby words
enunciate, enunciation, enure, enuresis, env., envelop, envelope, envelope chemise, envelopment, envenom, envenomation
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
Related forms
en·vel·op·er, nounpre·en·vel·op, verb (used with object)un·en·vel·oped, adjectiveCan be confused
envelop envelopeDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for enveloping
British Dictionary definitions for enveloping
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
envelopment, nounWord Origin for envelop
C14: from Old French envoluper, from en- 1 + voluper, voloper, of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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