envelop

verb

en·​vel·​op in-ˈve-ləp How to pronounce envelop (audio)
en-
enveloped; enveloping; envelops

transitive verb

1
: to enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
2
: to mount an attack on (an enemy's flank)
envelopment noun

Examples of envelop in a Sentence

a chronic mistrust of outsiders envelops that neighborhood, cutting it off from the rest of the city the truth of the presidential assassination is enveloped in a dense fog of myths and conspiracy theories
Recent Examples on the Web Lab’s camera drinks in the saturated autumnal coppers and enveloping hunter greens of the forest, but the views here aren’t emptily panoramic: Any jeweled image of nature comes with a tacit threat of decay or death. Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Mar. 2024 Instead of transparent updates about Kate’s health calls for proof of life, conspiracy theories and wild conjecture have enveloped the princess, her husband, Prince William, and the British royal family. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 The houses have rocking chairs on wraparound porches and resurrection ferns envelop the live oaks that canopy the historic downtown’s main street. Kayla Michelle Smith, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024 Unlike forest fires, when flames can envelop animals, the fire in Texas burned quickly across grassland, meaning many of the initial injuries were burns on the legs and bellies of cattle and horses, and sometimes on cows’ udders. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs Desiree Rios, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 This metaphorical term points to parents that aim to envelop their children in a layer of protection, barring them from experiencing the world and learning from their own mistakes. Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 The heaviest rain will begin to shift south late Sunday and early Monday, enveloping the Central Coast and parts of Southern California. Elliana Hebert, CNN, 17 Feb. 2024 Soon the two of them are enveloped by passion and become intertwined in each other’s lives, to disastrous effect. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The spirit of Harriet Tubman seemed to envelop the theater. Donna M. Owens, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'envelop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English envolupen, from Anglo-French envoluper, envoleper, from en- + voluper to wrap

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of envelop was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near envelop

Cite this Entry

“Envelop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envelop. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

envelop

verb
en·​vel·​op in-ˈvel-əp How to pronounce envelop (audio)
: to surround and enclose completely with or as if with a covering
envelopment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on envelop

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