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en·ve·lope

(ĕnvə-lōp′, ŏn-)

1. A flat paper container, especially for a letter, usually having a gummed flap.

2. Something that envelops; a wrapping.

3. Biology An enclosing structure or cover, such as a membrane or the outer coat of a virus.

4. The bag containing the gas in a balloon or airship.

5. The set of limitations within which a technological system, especially an aircraft, can perform safely and effectively.

6. Astronomy

a. A usually spherical region of interstellar matter surrounding a forming star and interacting with the star's gravitational and radiation fields.

b. The coma of a comet.

7. Mathematics A curve or surface that is tangent to every one of a family of curves or surfaces.

Idiom:

push the envelope

To exceed or try to exceed the existing limits of a discipline or activity.

[French enveloppe, from envelopper, to envelop, from Old French envoloper; see ENVELOP.]

Usage Note: Some people dislike the pronunciation (ŏnvə-lōp′), arguing that it is pretentious for being pseudo-French and that it is unnecessary, since there is a perfectly acceptable Anglicized pronunciation, (ĕnvə-lōp′). But the pronunciation with (ŏn) is gaining in acceptability: in our 1992 survey, 30 percent of the Usage Panel used it exclusively, and another 9 percent used it occasionally; by 2011, 46 percent selected it as their preferred pronunciation. Both forms should be considered standard.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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