canopy

From Middle English canope, from Latin cōnōpēum (“curtain”) (ultimately from Ancient Greek κωνωπεῖον (kōnōpeîon)), through Medieval Latin canopeum, or possibly Old French conope, conopé (compare modern French canapé).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈkæ.nə.pi/

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canopy (plural canopies)

1. A high cover providing shelter, such as a cloth supported above an object, particularly over a bed.
   • Dryden

     golden canopies and beds of state

2. Any overhanging or projecting roof structure, typically over entrances or doors.
3. The zone of the highest foliage and branches of a forest.
4. In an airplane, the transparent cockpit cover.
5. In a parachute, the cloth that fills with air and thus limits the falling speed.

• → French: canopée (calque)
• → Spanish: canopy

canopy (third-person singular simple present canopies, present participle canopying, simple past and past participle canopied)

1. (transitive) To cover with or as if with a canopy.
   • c. 1599, William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act I, Scene 1,

     Away before me to sweet beds of flowers:

     Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers.

   • 1634, John Milton, Comus, lines 543-5,

     I sat me down to watch upon a bank

     With ivy canopied, and interwove

     With flaunting honeysuckle […]

   • 1818, Mary Shelley, Franklenstein, Chapter 11,

     I began also to observe, with greater accuracy, the forms that surrounded me, and to perceive the boundaries of the radiant roof of light which canopied me.

   • 1850, The Madras Journal of Literature and Science, Vol. XVI, No. 38, Vepery: J.P. Bantleman, p. 366,

     The walls of the vestibule and passage passing round the sanctuary, are covered with compartments holding high reliefs of Buddha seated on a lotus, the stem of which is grasped by two figures wearing wigs and tiaras, canopied by snakes; […]

2. (intransitive) To go through the canopy of a forest on a zipline.
   • 2013, Tara Morris, “Canopying In Rio Claro,” colombiareports.com, 11 March, 2013,

     If you’re looking for a little adventure in Colombia, look no further than canopying through Rio Claro’s lush, secluded jungle, located just five hours bus ride from either Medellin or Bogota.

• canopied
• canopy bed

canopy m (uncountable)

1. (Caribbean) zipline (activity)