26984 words

umbrella

5 definitions • 11 examples
1
a device for protection against the rain, consisting of a stick with a folding frame covered in material at one end and usually a handle at the other, or a similar, often larger, device used for protection against the sun:

Examples:

I felt a few drops of rain, so I put my umbrella up.
I left my umbrella on the bus yesterday.
a folding umbrella
2
something that includes or represents a group or range of similar things:

Examples:

He runs a group of companies under the umbrella of Universal Foods.
Existentialism was really an umbrella term to lump together the works of several philosophers and writers.
3
a cover that protects from rain or sun, esp. waterproof material fitted on a folding frame with a handle at one end:

Examples:

A figure carrying an open umbrella walked slowly through the rain.
4
An umbrella is also something that includes a number of similar things:

Examples:

an umbrella term
an umbrella organization
5
something that includes or represents a group or range of similar things:

Examples:

They provide an umbrella of work force development services.
An awful lot of damage is done under the umbrella of ecotourism.

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