Link Centre Dictionary

mantle

UK/ˈmæn.təl/ US/ˈmæntʌl/ fairly common
noun (8) verb (2)

noun

1.

the cloak as a symbol of authority

  • “place the mantle of authority on younger shoulders”
2.
3.

the layer of the earth between the crust and the core

4.

anything that covers

  • “there was a blanket of snow”
Synonyms
5.

(zoology) a protective layer of epidermis in mollusks or brachiopods that secretes a substance forming the shell

Synonyms
6.

shelf that projects from wall above fireplace

  • “in England they call a mantel a chimneypiece”
Synonyms
7.
8.

a sleeveless garment like a cloak but shorter

Synonyms

verb

1.
2.

cover like a mantle

  • “The ivy mantles the building”

Origin

From Middle English mantel, from Old English mæntel, mentel (“sleeveless cloak”), from Proto-West Germanic *mantel; later reinforced by Anglo-Norman mantel, both from Latin mantellum (“covering, cloak”) (French manteau), diminutive of mantum (Spanish manto), probably from Gaulish *mantos, *mantalos (“trodden road”), from Proto-Celtic *mantos, *mantlos, from Proto-Indo-European *menH- (“tread, press together; crumble”). Compare Icelandic möttull. Doublet of manteau.

Phrases

  • alpine lady's-mantle
  • assume the mantle
  • assuming the mantle
  • bishop's mantle
  • Blue Mantle
  • carry the mantle
  • carrying the mantle
  • foot mantle

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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Parts

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.