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envelop - 5 dictionary results

en⋅vel⋅op

[v. en-vel-uhp; n. en-vel-uhp, en-vuh-luhp, ahn-] verb, -oped, -op⋅ing. noun
–verb (used with object)
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.
3. to surround entirely.
4. Military. to attack (an enemy's flank).
–noun
5. envelope.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME envolupen < OF envoluper, equiv. to en- en- 1 + voloper to envelop, of obscure orig.; cf. OPr (en)volopar, It inviluppare to envelop, It viluppo tuft, bundle, confusion, referred to ML faluppa chaff, wisp of straw, perh. influenced by the descendants of L volvere to roll


en⋅vel⋅op⋅er, noun


1. enfold, cover, hide, conceal. 3. encompass, enclose.

en⋅ve⋅lope

[en-vuh-lohp, ahn-]
–noun
1. a flat paper container, as for a letter or thin package, usually having a gummed flap or other means of closure.
2. something that envelops; a wrapper, integument, or surrounding cover.
3. Biology. a surrounding or enclosing structure, as a corolla or an outer membrane.
4. Geometry. a curve or surface tangent to each member of a set of curves or surfaces.
5. Radio. (of a modulated carrier wave) a curve connecting the peaks of a graph of the instantaneous value of the electric or magnetic component of the carrier wave as a function of time.
6. the fabric structure enclosing the gasbag of an aerostat.
7. the gasbag itself.
8. Electronics. the airtight glass or metal housing of a vacuum tube.
9. the technical limits within which an aircraft or electronic system may be safely operated.
10. push the envelope, to stretch established limits, as in technological advance or social innovation.
Also, envelop.


Origin:
1700–10; < F enveloppe, deriv. of envelopper to envelop
en·vel·op   (ěn-věl'əp)   
tr.v.   en·vel·oped, en·vel·op·ing, en·vel·ops
  1. To enclose or encase completely with or as if with a covering: "Accompanying the darkness, a stillness envelops the city" (Curtis Wilkie).
  2. To attack (an enemy's flank).

[Middle English envolupen, to be involved in, from Old French envoluper, envoloper : en-, in; see en-1 + voloper, to wrap up.]
en·vel'op·er n., en·vel'op·ment n.

Envelop

En*vel"op\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enveloped; p. pr. & vb. n. Enveloping.] [OE. envolupen, envolipen, OF. envoluper, envoleper, F. envelopper; pref. en- (L. in) + voluper, voleper. See Develop.] To put a covering about; to wrap up or in; to inclose within a case, wrapper, integument or the like; to surround entirely; as, to envelop goods or a letter; the fog envelops a ship.

Nocturnal shades this world envelop. --J. Philips.
Language Translation for : envelop
Spanish: envolver,
German: einhüllen,
Japanese: 包む

envelop 
1386, "be involved in," from O.Fr. envoluper, from en- "in" + voloper "wrap up," of uncertain origin, perhaps Celtic.
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