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   En·vel·ope

   /ˈenvəˌlōp/

   

   noun

   • 1. a flat paper container with a sealable flap, used to enclose a letter or document.
   • 2. a covering or containing structure or layer: "the external envelope of the swimming pool"
   • ▪ the outer metal or glass housing of a vacuum tube, electric light, etc.: "the switch itself is a glass envelope filled with rare gases and containing two contacts"
   • ▪ the structure within a balloon or nonrigid airship containing the gas.
   • ▪ a membrane forming the outer layer of certain viruses.
   • ▪ a curve joining the successive peaks of a modulated wave.
   • ▪ a curve or surface tangent to each of a family of curves or surfaces.
   • ▪ the nebulous covering of the head of a comet; coma.

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in the sense ‘wrapper, enveloping layer’; originally as envelope): from French enveloppe, from envelopper ‘envelop’. The sense ‘covering of a letter’ dates from the early 18th century.

   Scrabble Points: 13

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   • N

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   • V

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   • E

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   • L

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   • O

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   • P

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   • E

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