Definition of Envelope

1. Noun. A flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc..

Generic synonyms: Container
Specialized synonyms: Window Envelope

2. Noun. Any wrapper or covering.
Generic synonyms: Wrap, Wrapper, Wrapping

3. Noun. A curve that is tangent to each of a family of curves.
Generic synonyms: Curve, Curved Shape

4. Noun. A natural covering (as by a fluid). "The spacecraft detected an envelope of gas around the comet"
Generic synonyms: Cover, Covering, Natural Covering

5. Noun. The maximum operating capability of a system (especially an aircraft). "Test pilots try to push the envelope"

6. Noun. The bag containing the gas in a balloon.
Exact synonyms: Gasbag
Generic synonyms: Bag
Group relationships: Balloon

Definition of Envelope

1. n. That which envelops, wraps up, encases, or surrounds; a wrapper; an inclosing cover; esp., the cover or wrapper of a document, as of a letter.

Definition of Envelope

1. Noun. A paper or cardboard wrapper used to enclose small, flat items, especially letters, for mailing. ¹

2. Noun. Something that envelops; a wrapping ¹

3. Noun. A bag containing the lifting gas of a balloon or airship; fabric that encloses the gas-bags of an airship. ¹

4. Noun. (geometry) A mathematical curve, surface, or higher-dimensional object that is the tangent to a given family of lines, curves, surfaces, or higher-dimensional objects. ¹

5. Noun. (electronics) A curve that bounds another curve or set of curves, as the modulation envelope of an amplitude-modulated carrier wave in electronics. ¹

6. Noun. (music) The shape of a sound, which may be controlled by a synthesizer or sampler. ¹

7. Noun. (computing) The information used for routing an email that is transmitted with the email but not part of its contents. ¹

8. Noun. (biology) An enclosing structure or cover, such as a membrane. ¹

9. Noun. (engineering) The set of limitations within which a technological system can perform safely and effectively. ¹

10. Noun. The nebulous covering of the head or nucleus of a comet; a coma. ¹

11. Noun. An earthwork in the form of a single parapet or a small rampart, sometimes raised in the ditch and sometimes beyond it. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Envelope

1. a paper container [n -S]

Medical Definition of Envelope

1. 1. Lipoprotein outer layer of some viruses derived from plasma membrane of the host cell. 2. The plasma membrane and cell wall complex of a bacterium. (11 Nov 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Envelope

env gene
env glycoprotein
envault
envaulted
envaults
enveigle
enveigled
enveigles
enveigling
enveil
envelop
envelope (current term)
envelope conformation
envelope flap
enveloped
enveloper
envelopers
envelopes
enveloping
enveloping(a)
envelopment
envelopments
envelops
envenime
envenom
envenomate

Literary usage of Envelope

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Elements of the Differential and Integral Calculus by William Anthony Granville (1904)
"Г^\ at; the same time become a tangent to the AB envelope. Therefore В and the envelope have a common tangent ; similarly for every curve of the family. ..."

2. Publishers Weekly by Publishers' Board of Trade (U.S.), Book Trade Association of Philadelphia, American Book Trade Union, Am. Book Trade Association, R.R. Bowker Company (1876)
"Betwixt and Between, long fold octavo, assorted Baronial sad Empress envelope, four tints. Hyacinth, long fold octavo, Baronial envelope, four tints. ..."

3. A Treatise on the Higher Plane Curves: Intended as a Sequel to A Treatise on by George Salmon (1879)
"To find the envelope of the chords of curvature of the points of a conic. The equation of the chord is (Conia, Art. 244, Ex. 1) - coso — ? sino = cos2a. ..."

4. Elements of the Differential and Integral Calculus: With Examples and by James Morford Taylor, William Christ (1889)
"Since the coordinates of the points on the envelope satisfy both (4) and (1), its equation is found by eliminating a between these» equations. 168. ..."

5. Differential and Integral Calculus by Clyde Elton Love (1916)
"envelope of tangents. Every curve may be considered as the envelope of its tangents, as appears at once from the definition of the envelope. ..."

6. Differential and Integral Calculus by Clyde Elton Love (1916)
"Example: Find the envelope of the family of straight lines y = mx + -, where ... envelope of tangents. Every curve may be considered as the envelope of its ..."

7. Criminal Justice & Community Response to Rape by Joel Epstein (1995)
"Seal the envelope and fill out all information requested on the envelope. ... Fold towel in manner to retain comb, hairs and debris and place in envelope. ..."

8. Lectures on the Calculus of Variations by Oskar Bolza (1904)
"Now. if 2 be taken sufficiently near to 3 on the envelope 5, ... And since the envelope $ is never itself a geodesic/ the arc 23 can be replaced by a ..."

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