An umbrella is an object which you use to protect yourself from the rain or hot sun. It consists of a long stick with a folding frame covered in cloth.
Harry held an umbrella over Dawn.
Synonyms: brolly [British, informal], parasol, sunshade, gamp More Synonyms of umbrella
2. singular noun [NOUN noun]
Umbrella is used to refer to a single group or description that includes a lot of different organizations or ideas.
Does coincidence come under the umbrella of the paranormal? [+ of]
Within the umbrella term 'dementia' there are many different kinds of disease.
...Socialist International, an umbrella group comprising almost a hundred SocialDemocrat parties.
3. singular noun
Umbrella is used to refer to a system or agreement which protects a country or group of people.
As regulated investments, they come under the umbrella of the country's financialcompensation scheme. [+ of]
Britain cannot avoid being under the U.S. nuclear umbrella, whether it wants to ornot.
More Synonyms of umbrella
umbrella in British English
(ʌmˈbrɛlə)
noun
1.
a portable device used for protection against rain, snow, etc, and consisting of a light canopy supported on a collapsible metal frame mounted on a central rod
2.
the flattened cone-shaped contractile body of a jellyfish or other medusa
3.
a protective shield or screen, esp of aircraft or gunfire
4.
anything that has the effect of a protective screen or cover
5.
a.
any system or agency that provides centralized organization or general cover for a group of related companies, organizations, etc
b.
(as modifier)
an umbrella fund
an umbrella group
Derived forms
umbrella-like (umˈbrella-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Italian ombrella, diminutive of ombra shade; see umbra
umbrella in American English
(ʌmˈbrɛlə)
noun
1.
a screen or shade, usually of cloth stretched over a folding radial frame, carried for protection against the rain or sun
2.
something suggestive of this
; specif.,
a.
the body of a jellyfish
b.
any comprehensive, protective organization, alliance, strategy, or device
the umbrella of insurance
c.
a force of military aircraft sent up to screen ground or naval forces
air umbrella
Word origin
It ombrella < LL umbrella (altered by assoc. with L umbra, shade) < L umbella, parasol, dim. of umbra, shade
Examples of 'umbrella' in a sentence
umbrella
One guy ran over and covered his body with an umbrella.
The Sun (2010)
You must not stray from their protective umbrella too soon.
Geoffrey A. Moore INSIDE THE TORNADO: MARKETING STRATEGIES FROM SILICON VALLEY'S CUTTING EDGE (2001)
It ended up being used as an umbrella stand in their hallway.
The Sun (2010)
One problem is that massage is an umbrella term.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He laughs and says we are crazy to be walking in the rain without an umbrella.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It ought to be shared by all of us who live under the dubious protection of the nuclear umbrella.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
The first point to make is that stroke and migraine are umbrella terms that encompass a number of different underlying conditions.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The umbrella protecting us is gone.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
The major political parties are umbrella organizations that put together complex coalitions of those organized interests with which they have an affinity.
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
It is rainy season, and many queued clutching umbrellas in the light morning drizzle.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Is it polite to share one's umbrella in the rain?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But cancer is an umbrella term for 200 diseases that all react differently.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
All were supplied with umbrellas, as rain was forecast.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
An umbrella term for people who don't conform to the conventional idea of gender roles.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A legal umbrella protects the business from its creditors and helps it to buy time.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I had to build a protective umbrella out of my own bones and skin.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
WHAT do you call a parrot in the rain with an umbrella?
The Sun (2008)
The almost daily attacks have sent citizens rushing to arm themselves with any weapons they can find, from selfie sticks to umbrellas.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
An umbrella term for diseases of the heart and circulation including coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack and stroke.
The Sun (2013)
With a photographic light, an umbrella is the easiest diffuser to use, but soft daylight from a window also works well.
Freeman, Michael Photographers Handbook (1993)
It follows our story yesterday of the Dorset couple whose old vase they used as an umbrella stand turned out to be worth 500,000.
The Sun (2010)
Britain cannot avoid being under the US nuclear umbrella, whether it wants to or not.
Hirst, Paul After Thatcher (1989)
The DEC does not need to be big because it is an umbrella group, and not a frontline charity.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
umbrella
British English: umbrella /ʌmˈbrɛlə/ NOUN
An umbrella is an object which you use to protect yourself from the rain. It consists of a long stick with a folding frame covered in cloth.
He held an umbrella over his wife.
American English: umbrella
Arabic: مِظَلَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: guarda-chuva
Chinese: 伞
Croatian: kišobran
Czech: deštník
Danish: paraply
Dutch: paraplu
European Spanish: paraguas
Finnish: sateenvarjo
French: parapluie
German: Schirm
Greek: ομπρέλα
Italian: ombrello
Japanese: 傘
Korean: 우산
Norwegian: paraply
Polish: parasol
European Portuguese: guarda-chuva
Romanian: umbrelă
Russian: зонт
Latin American Spanish: paraguas
Swedish: paraply
Thai: ร่ม
Turkish: şemsiye
Ukrainian: парасолька
Vietnamese: dù
All related terms of 'umbrella'
sun umbrella
an umbrella by a chair or table, used for protecting you from the sun
umbrella bird
a black tropical American passerine bird , Cephalopterus ornatus, having a large overhanging crest and a long feathered wattle : family Cotingidae ( cotingas )
umbrella bush
a North American magnolia , Magnolia tripetala, having long leaves clustered into an umbrella formation at the ends of the branches and unpleasant-smelling white flowers
umbrella leaf
a perennial plant ( Diphylleia cymosa ) of the barberry family, native to the S Appalachians and having one or two lobed, peltate leaves and a cyme of white flowers
umbrella pine
a Mediterranean pine tree, Pinus pinea, having a short bole and radiating branches forming an umbrella shape
umbrella step
a step executed by extending one foot forward and whirling on the heel
umbrella tree
a North American magnolia , Magnolia tripetala, having long leaves clustered into an umbrella formation at the ends of the branches and unpleasant-smelling white flowers
beach umbrella
a large umbrella used as a sunshade on the beach
umbrella plant
an African sedge , Cyperus alternifolius, having large umbrella-like whorls of slender leaves: widely grown as an ornamental water plant
umbrella policy
An umbrella policy is a policy that provides excess limits and gives additional excess coverage over the normal limits and coverage of liability policies.
umbrella stand
an upright rack or stand for umbrellas
nuclear umbrella
a guarantee from a country or state that possesses nuclear weapons to a country that does not that they will defend them
telescopic umbrella
an umbrella having parts that telescope
Japanese umbrella pine
a single aberrant species of pine , Sciadopitys verticillata, in which the leaves are fused in pairs and the crown is spire-shaped
stone pine
a Mediterranean pine tree, Pinus pinea, having a short bole and radiating branches forming an umbrella shape
umbrel
a portable device used for protection against rain , snow , etc, and consisting of a light canopy supported on a collapsible metal frame mounted on a central rod
Chinese translation of 'umbrella'
umbrella
(ʌmˈbrɛlə)
n(c)
伞(傘) (sǎn) (把, bǎ)
(fig)
under the umbrella of在 ... 的庇护(護)下 (zài ... de bìhù xià)