CEILING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ceiling mean? 

• CEILING (noun)
  The noun CEILING has 4 senses:

1. the overhead upper surface of a covered space

2. (meteorology) altitude of the lowest layer of clouds

3. an upper limit on what is allowed

4. maximum altitude at which a plane can fly (under specified conditions)

  Familiarity information: CEILING used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CEILING (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The overhead upper surface of a covered space

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

he hated painting the ceiling

Hypernyms ("ceiling" is a kind of...):

upper surface (the side that is uppermost)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ceiling"):

overhead ((nautical) the top surface of an enclosed space on a ship)

Holonyms ("ceiling" is a part of...):

hall; hallway (an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open)

room (an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(meteorology) altitude of the lowest layer of clouds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("ceiling" is a kind of...):

altitude; height (elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface)

Domain category:

meteorology (the earth science dealing with phenomena of the atmosphere (especially weather))

Sense 3

Meaning:

An upper limit on what is allowed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

cap; ceiling; roof

Context example:

they established a cap for prices

Hypernyms ("ceiling" is a kind of...):

control (the economic policy of controlling or limiting or curbing prices or wages etc.)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ceiling"):

glass ceiling (a ceiling based on attitudinal or organizational bias in the work force that prevents minorities and women from advancing to leadership positions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Maximum altitude at which a plane can fly (under specified conditions)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("ceiling" is a kind of...):

altitude; height (elevation especially above sea level or above the earth's surface)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ceiling"):

absolute ceiling (the maximum altitude at which an airplane can maintain horizontal flight)

combat ceiling; service ceiling (altitude above which a plane cannot climb faster than a given rate)

 Context examples 

The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The carpet prevents any possibility of a trap-door, and the ceiling is of the ordinary whitewashed kind.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He made her no answer; and only observed, after again examining the room, that it was very low pitched, and that the ceiling was crooked.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

The eyes winked three times, and then they turned up to the ceiling and down to the floor and rolled around so queerly that they seemed to see every part of the room.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

The vicar said that they saw on the ceiling—Oh, Jim, you can see it even now!

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He looked up at the ceiling, back at the closed door, and round at the stiff folds of motionless tapestry.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This compound has been classified as a loop or high ceiling diuretic.

(Ethacrynic Acid, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

This is because in many rooms, windows are positioned halfway up the wall, and when they are opened, the warm air near the ceiling can’t easily escape.

(Wind more effective than cold air at cooling rooms naturally, University of Cambridge)

My bedroom at home was not large, yet it could have contained a dozen similar forecastles, and taking into consideration the height of the ceiling, a score at least.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

Over the bed, hoisted by a tackle to the ceiling, was his bicycle.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)