ceiling

[ see-ling ]
/ ˈsi lɪŋ /

noun

Idioms for ceiling

    hit the ceiling, Informal. to become enraged: When he saw the amount of the bill, he hit the ceiling.

Origin of ceiling

1350–1400, for def 7; Middle English; see ceil, -ing1

OTHER WORDS FROM ceiling

ceil·inged, adjective sub·ceil·ing, noun un·ceil·inged, adjective un·der·ceil·ing, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH ceiling

ceiling sealing

Words nearby ceiling

Definition for ceiling (2 of 2)

ceil
[ seel ]
/ sil /

verb (used with object)

to overlay (the ceiling of a building or room) with wood, plaster, etc.
to provide with a ceiling.

Origin of ceil

1400–50; late Middle English celen to cover, to panel < ?

Example sentences from the Web for ceiling

British Dictionary definitions for ceiling (1 of 2)

ceiling
/ (ˈsiːlɪŋ) /

noun

the inner upper surface of a room
  1. an upper limit, such as one set by regulation on prices or wages
  2. (as modifier)ceiling prices
the upper altitude to which an aircraft can climb measured under specified conditions See also service ceiling, absolute ceiling
meteorol the highest level in the atmosphere from which the earth's surface is visible at a particular time, usually the base of a cloud layer
a wooden or metal surface fixed to the interior frames of a vessel for rigidity

Word Origin for ceiling

C14: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for ceiling (2 of 2)

ceil
/ (siːl) /

verb (tr)

to line (a ceiling) with plaster, boarding, etc
to provide with a ceiling

Word Origin for ceil

C15 celen, perhaps back formation from ceiling

Idioms and Phrases with ceiling

ceiling

see glass ceiling; hit the ceiling.