umbrella
/ʌmˈbrel.ə/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
A portable cover with a handle and folding ribs, used to protect you from rain or sun.
- I forgot my umbrella on the bus.
- Take an umbrella; it may rain later.
- She opened her umbrella in the wind.
- 2.
A general word for something that covers or includes many different things or people.
- The project is under the umbrella of the health ministry.
- This is an umbrella term for many small diseases.
- The company works under one umbrella brand.
Adinary Nuance
An umbrella is the object you carry in rain or strong sun. Do not confuse it with parasol, which usually suggests a sunshade and sounds more formal or old-fashioned. In modern English, umbrella can also mean a broad cover or group, like an umbrella term or umbrella company.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ô
- Spanish
- paraguas
- Chinese
- 雨伞
- Japanese
- 傘
- Korean
- 우산
Etymology
Umbrella came into English in the 1600s from Italian and Latin forms meaning "little shade." It originally referred to a sunshade before becoming a rain cover.
Common phrases
open an umbrellacarry an umbrellaunder one umbrellaumbrella term
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between an umbrella and a parasol?
- An umbrella is mainly for rain. A parasol is mainly for shade from the sun.
- Can I use umbrella in business writing?
- Yes. It often means a broad group, category, or parent company.
- Is umbrella a common word?
- Yes. It is very common in everyday English and also useful in formal writing.
- How do I use umbrella in a sentence?
- You can say, 'I kept my files under one umbrella term.'