envelope

en·ve·lope  (nv-lp, n-)

n.

1. A flat paper container, especially for a letter, usually having a gummed flap.

2. Something that envelops; a wrapping.

3. Biology An enclosing structure or cover, such as a membrane or the outer coat of a virus.

4. The bag containing the gas in a balloon or airship.

5. The set of limitations within which a technological system, especially an aircraft, can perform safely and effectively.

6. The coma of a comet.

7. Mathematics A curve or surface that is tangent to every one of a family of curves or surfaces.

Idiom:

push the envelope

1. To increase the operating capabilities of a technological system.

2. To exceed the existing limits in a certain field; be innovative.

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[French enveloppe, from envelopper, to envelop, from Old French envoloper; see envelop.]

Usage Note: The word envelope was borrowed into English from French during the early 18th century, and the first syllable acquired the pronunciation (n) as an approximation to the nasalized French pronunciation. Gradually the word has become anglicized further and is now most commonly pronounced (nv-lp). The earlier pronunciation is still considered acceptable, however. A recent survey reveals that the (n-) pronunciation for the word envelope is used by 30 percent of the Usage Panel and is recognized as an acceptable variant by about 20 percent of those Panelists who normally use the (n-) pronunciation. Other similar words borrowed from French in the modern period include envoy (17th century), encore, ennui, ensemble, entree (18th century), entourage, and entrepreneur (19th century). Most retain their pseudo-French pronunciations, with the exception of envoy, which, like envelope, is mainly pronounced with (n) now.

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envelope

Noun

1. a flat covering of paper, that can be sealed, used to enclose a letter, etc.

2. any covering, wrapper, or enclosing structure: an envelope of filo pastry

3. Geom a curve that is tangential to each one of a group of curves [French envelopper to wrap round]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	envelope - a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc. container - any object that can be used to hold things (especially a large metal boxlike object of standardized dimensions that can be loaded from one form of transport to another) window envelope - an envelope with a transparent panel that reveals the address on the enclosure
	2.	envelope - any wrapper or covering wrapping, wrapper, wrap - the covering (usually paper or cellophane) in which something is wrapped
	3.	envelope - a curve that is tangent to each of a family of curves curve, curved shape - the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
	4.	envelope - a natural covering (as by a fluid); "the spacecraft detected an envelope of gas around the comet" covering, natural covering, cover - a natural object that covers or envelops; "under a covering of dust"; "the fox was flushed from its cover"
	5.	envelope - the maximum operating capability of a system (especially an aircraft); "test pilots try to push the envelope" operating capability, performance capability - the capability of a technological system to perform as intended
	6.	envelope - the bag containing the gas in a balloon gasbag bag - a flexible container with a single opening; "he stuffed his laundry into a large bag" balloon - large tough nonrigid bag filled with gas or heated air

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envelope

noun wrapping, casing, case, covering, cover, skin, shell, coating, jacket, sleeve, sheath, wrapper

Translations

envelope [ˈɛnvələup] n → sobre m

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envelope [ˈɛnvələup] n → enveloppe f

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envelope [ˈɛnvələup] n → Umschlag m

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envelope [ˈɛnvələup] n → busta