um·brel·la
ˌəm-ˈbre-lə 
especially Southern ˈəm-ˌbre-
1
: a collapsible shade for protection against weather consisting of fabric stretched over hinged ribs radiating from a central pole
especially
: a small one for carrying in the hand
2
: something which covers or embraces a broad range of elements or factors
decided to expand … by building new colleges under a federation umbrella—
Diane Ravitch
Diane Ravitch3
: the bell-shaped or saucer-shaped largely gelatinous structure that forms the chief part of the body of most jellyfishes : bell entry 1 sense 3b
4
: something which provides protection: such as
a
: defensive air cover (as over a battlefront)
b
: a heavy barrage
umbrellaed; umbrellaing
: to protect, cover, or provide with an umbrella
Examples of umbrella in a Sentence
Noun
The store sells Indian, Asian, and Middle Eastern foods under the umbrella of international cuisine.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kelly Lambert, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Under my system, the United States would still backstop the continent’s security by providing a nuclear umbrella and deploying its naval resources.
—Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2023
In notoriously windy Palm Springs, that siting is crucial during the gusty season (April through June) when cafe umbrellas elsewhere easily topple from the gusts.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for umbrella 
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Noun
One day, a student noticed something strange: One of the rats in the group trained to expect positive experiences had its tail straight up with a crook at the end, resembling the handle of an old-fashioned umbrella.
—Kelly Lambert, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
Under my system, the United States would still backstop the continent’s security by providing a nuclear umbrella and deploying its naval resources.
—Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Red umbrellas became a red rain, then umbrellas again.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 2 June 2023
In notoriously windy Palm Springs, that siting is crucial during the gusty season (April through June) when cafe umbrellas elsewhere easily topple from the gusts.
—R. Daniel Foster, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for umbrella
Dictionary Entries Near umbrella
Cite this Entry
“Umbrella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbrella. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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