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
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, noun pre·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
Example sentences 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 understanding
a 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