envelop

[ verb en-vel-uhp; noun en-vel-uhp, en-vuh-luhp, ahn- ]
See synonyms for envelop on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),en·vel·oped, en·vel·op·ing.
  1. to wrap up in or as in a covering: The long cloak she was wearing enveloped her completely.

  2. to serve as a wrapping or covering for, as a membrane of an organ or a sheath.

  1. to surround entirely.

  2. Military. to attack (an enemy's flank).

noun

Origin of envelop

1
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 for envelop

Other words from envelop

  • en·vel·op·er, noun
  • pre·en·vel·op, verb (used with object)
  • un·en·vel·oped, adjective

Words that may be confused with envelop

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for envelop

envelop

/ (ɪnˈvɛləp) /


verb-lops, -loping or -loped (tr)
  1. to wrap or enclose in or as if in a covering

  2. to conceal or obscure, as from sight or understanding: a plan enveloped in mystery

  1. to surround or partially surround (an enemy force)

Origin of envelop

1
C14: from Old French envoluper, from en- 1 + voluper, voloper, of obscure origin

Derived forms of envelop

  • envelopment, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012