umbrella

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian ombrella, umbrella (parasol, sunshade), dim. of ombra (shade) (or from a Late Latin or Medieval Latin umbrella), from Latin umbra (shadow).

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ʌmˈbɹɛlə/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛlə

Noun

umbrella (plural umbrellas)

An umbrella (1)
  1. Cloth-covered frame used for protection against rain or sun.
    Quick, grab that umbrella before you get rained on!
  2. Generally, anything that provides protection.
    The fighters provide a defensive air umbrella over the battle group.
  3. Something that covers a wide range of concepts, purposes, groups, etc.
    The test facility was established under the umbrella of the company's quality program.
  4. The main body of a jellyfish, excluding the tentacles.
    Jellyfish are composed of more than 90% water and most of their umbrella mass is made up of gelatinous material.
  5. (photography, television) An umbrella-shaped reflector with a white or silvery inner surface, used to diffuse a nearby light.
    • Michael Allen, Modern Wedding Photography (page 97)
      Using umbrellas for shooting a wedding party is ok, but not necessary.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Terms derived from umbrella (noun)

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

See also

Further reading

Verb

umbrella (third-person singular simple present umbrellas, present participle umbrellaing, simple past and past participle umbrellaed)

  1. (transitive) To cover or protect, as if by an umbrella.
    • 1944, Emily Carr, The House of All Sorts, “Life Loves Living,”
      Experts with saws and ladders came and lopped off the lower branches. This sent the tree's growth rushing violently to her head in a lush overhanging which umbrellaed the House of All Sorts.
    • 2008, Jonathan Kellerman, Bad Love: Alex Delaware 8:
      Huge pine and eucalyptus umbrellaed the grounds, airconditioning the morning.
  2. (intransitive) To form the dome shape of an open umbrella.
    • 2011, B. A. Rothwell, The Peaceful Queen, page 31:
      Bright yellow gowns fit them tightly and umbrellaed from their waist to just below the knees.
  3. (intransitive) To move like a jellyfish.
    • 1997, National Geographic Traveler, page 36:
      The light catches the filigreed tendrils and graceful motion of the jellies, their orange bodies umbrella-ing along like fairy parasols come to life.

Anagrams


Maltese

Etymology

Borrowed from English umbrella.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʊmbˈrɛlːɐ/

Noun

umbrella f

  1. umbrella

Romansch

Noun

umbrella f (plural umbrellas)

  1. (Surmiran, Vallader) umbrella, parasol

Synonyms

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