umbrella
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 su
I've left my umbrella in the office.
Oxford Essential Dictionary
umbrella
noun
a thing that you hold over your head to keep you dry when it rains:
It started to rain, so I put my umbrella up.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
umbrella
um‧brel‧la /ʌmˈbrelə/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Italian; Origin: ombrella, from Latin umbella, from umbra; ⇨ ↑umbrage]
1. an object that you use to protect yourself against rain or hot sun. It consists of a circular folding frame covered in cloth ⇨ parasol:
It started to rain, so Tricia stopped to put up her umbrella.
I spent the day on the beach, lying under a beach umbrella, reading.
2. umbrella organization/group/agency etc an organization that includes many smaller groups
3. umbrella term/word/title etc a word whose meaning includes many different types of a particular thing:
District nurses, health visitors, and school nurses will come under the umbrella term ‘community nursing’.
4. (come/work etc) under the umbrella of something to be part of a larger organization or involved in the work done by it:
The international education program came under the umbrella of the State Department.
5. the protection given by a powerful country, army, a weapons system etc:
the American nuclear umbrella over western Europe
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
umbrella
um·brella [umbrella umbrellas] [ʌmˈbrelə] [ʌmˈbrelə] noun
1. (also BrE informal brolly) an object with a round folding frame of long straight pieces of metal covered with material, that you use to protect yourself from the rain or from hot sun
• I put up my umbrella.
• colourful beach umbrellas
• a rolled/furled umbrella
• an umbrella stand
compare parasol, sunshade
2. a thing that contains or includes many different parts or elements
• Many previously separate groups are now operating under the umbrella of a single authority.
• an umbrella organization/group/fund
• ‘Contact sports’ is an umbrella term for a variety of different sports.
3. a country or system that protects people
See also: brolly
Word Origin:
early 17th cent.: from Italian ombrella, diminutive of ombra ‘shade’, from Latin umbra shade.
Example Bank:
• Two separate political parties emerged from the umbrella organization.
• ‘Herb’ is an umbrella term covering many types of plant.
• She let down her umbrella and furled it.
• She was fast asleep under a big beach umbrella.
• The two sectors combined under the umbrella of the Scottish Council.
• an umbrella group including members of opposition parties
• the American nuclear umbrella over Europe
• the broad umbrella of alternative medicine
• the two areas brought together under the umbrella of the committee
• Many previously separate groups are now operating under the umbrella of the same authority.
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
umbrella / ʌmˈbrel.ə / noun [ C ] (DEVICE)
umbrella
A2 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:
I felt a few spots of rain so I put my umbrella up.
I left another umbrella on the bus yesterday.
a folding umbrella
umbrella / ʌmˈbrel.ə / noun [ C ] (GROUP)
something that includes or represents a group or range of similar things:
There are 980 community agencies under the umbrella of the National Community Action Foundation.
Donations should be sent to the Disaster Emergency Committee, an umbrella organization for UK-based aid agencies.
Existentialism was really an umbrella term to lump together the works of several philosophers and writers.
© Cambridge University Press 2013
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
umbrella
/ʌmbrelə/
(umbrellas)
1.
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.
N-COUNT
2.
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?...
Within the umbrella term ‘dementia’ there are many different kinds of disease.
N-SING: usu N of n, supp N, N n
3.
Umbrella is used to refer to a system or agreement which protects a country or group of people.
The major powers have chosen to act under the moral umbrella of the United Nations...
N-SING: N of n, supp N
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
umbrella
um·brel·la /ˌʌmˈbrɛlə/ noun, pl -las [count]
1 : a device that is used for protection from the rain and sun
✦An umbrella consists of a circle of fabric attached to a folding frame that is connected to a central pole or handle.
• You shouldn't go out in the rain without an umbrella.
• a beach umbrella
2 : a group or organization that includes many smaller groups - often used before another noun
• an umbrella corporation
3 : something that includes several or many different things
• The store sells Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern foods under the umbrella of international cuisine.
- often used before another noun
• I used the heading “Odds and Ends” as an umbrella term for items that did not fit anywhere else.
• I bought an umbrella policy that insures my car, jewelry, and house.
