envelope
Americannoun
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a flat paper container, as for a letter or thin package, usually having a gummed flap or other means of closure.
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something that envelops; a wrapper, integument, or surrounding cover.
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Biology. a surrounding or enclosing structure, as a corolla or an outer membrane.
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Geometry. a curve or surface tangent to each member of a set of curves or surfaces.
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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.
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the fabric structure enclosing the gasbag of an aerostat.
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the gasbag itself.
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Electronics. the airtight glass or metal housing of a vacuum tube.
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the technical limits within which an aircraft or electronic system may be safely operated.
idioms
noun
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a flat covering of paper, usually rectangular in shape and with a flap that can be folded over and sealed, used to enclose a letter, etc
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any covering or wrapper
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biology any enclosing structure, such as a membrane, shell, or skin
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the bag enclosing the gas in a balloon
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maths a curve or surface that is tangent to each one of a group of curves or surfaces
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electronics the sealed glass or metal housing of a valve, electric light, etc
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telecomm the outer shape of a modulated wave, formed by the peaks of successive cycles of the carrier wave
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informal to push the boundaries of what is possible
Etymology
Origin of envelope
1700–10; < French enveloppe, derivative of envelopper to envelop
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Nesbø encloses “Wolf Hour,” translated from the Norwegian by Robert Ferguson, in a clever conceptual envelope: The book is being written years later by a Norwegian cousin of Bob’s.
Mediums read messages through sealed envelopes or made spirit messages appear on blank slates.
From Literature
The money is not currently in a bank account and it is not part of an estate — let’s assume it’s just cash in an envelope — and I live in a state with no inheritance tax.
From MarketWatch
I followed Grandpa into the store and watched while he reached up on a shelf and picked up an envelope.
From Literature
"When I tried to inspect factories after receiving some complaints about pollution, I faced a backlash from local communities because they had been receiving envelopes from these factories."
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
