English Explanatory Dictionary

ceiling

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The overhead closure of a room.
  2. The upper limit of an object or action.
  3. The highest altitude at which an aircraft can safely maintain flight.
  4. The measurement of visible distance from ground or sea level to an overcast cloud cover; under a clear sky, the ceiling measurement is identified as "unlimited."
  5. The smallest integer greater than or equal to a given number.
  6. The inner planking of a vessel.
  7. The maximum permitted level in a financial transaction.
  8. The overhead interior surface that covers the upper limits of a room.
verb
  1. present participle and gerund of ceil

Pronunciation

/ˈsiːlɪŋ/ En-uk-ceiling.ogg /ˈsilɪŋ/ En-us-ceiling.ogg

Word forms

ceiling ceilings

Etymology

From Middle English celing (“paneling; (bed) cover or hanging”), from celen (“to cover or panel walls”) (from Old French celer (“to conceal”)) + -ing (gerund-forming suffix). By surface analysis, ceil + -ing.

Synonyms

ceil

Antonyms

floor

Derived words

absolute ceiling acoustic ceiling bamboo ceiling brass ceiling cathedral ceiling ceil ceiling bird ceilinged ceiling effect ceiling fan ceiling function ceilingless ceilinglike ceiling paper ceilingward ceilingwards celluloid ceiling cloud ceiling cotton ceiling debt ceiling drop ceiling dropped ceiling flight ceiling floor-to-ceiling glass ceiling gray ceiling hit the ceiling lavender ceiling paper ceiling pink ceiling popcorn ceiling price ceiling pull someone off the ceiling rainbow ceiling scrape someone off the ceiling silver ceiling skill ceiling stipple ceiling subceiling through the ceiling tray ceiling
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