3 definitions found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Envelope \En"vel*ope\ (?; 277), Envelop \En*vel"op\ (?; 277), n.
[F. enveloppe.]
1. That which envelops, wraps up, encases, or surrounds; a
wrapper; an inclosing cover; esp., the cover or wrapper of
a document, as of a letter.
2. (Astron.) The nebulous covering of the head or nucleus of
a comet; -- called also {coma}.
3. (Fort.) A work of earth, in the form of a single parapet
or of a small rampart. It is sometimes raised in the ditch
and sometimes beyond it. --Wilhelm.
4. (Geom.) A curve or surface which is tangent to each member
of a system of curves or surfaces, the form and position
of the members of the system being allowed to vary
according to some continuous law. Thus, any curve is the
envelope of its tangents.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Envelop \En*vel"op\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Enveloped}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Enveloping}.] [OE. envolupen, envolipen, OF.
envoluper, envoleper, F. envelopper; pref. en- (L. in) +
voluper, voleper. See {Develop}.]
To put a covering about; to wrap up or in; to inclose within
a case, wrapper, integument or the like; to surround
entirely; as, to envelop goods or a letter; the fog envelops
a ship.
Nocturnal shades this world envelop. --J. Philips.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
envelop
v : enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering;
"Fog enveloped the house" [syn: {enfold}, {enwrap}, {wrap},
{enclose}]