ceiling
/'si:liɳ/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The upper interior surface of a room: The overhead surface that covers the top of a room.
- An upper limit set on something: A maximum limit imposed on something, such as a price, quantity, or level.
- The maximum altitude an aircraft can reach: The highest altitude at which an aircraft can operate effectively under given conditions.
- The altitude of the lowest cloud layer: In meteorology, the height above ground level of the base of the lowest layer of clouds.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Interior Surface):
- The room has a high, ornate ceiling.
- A light fixture hung from the center of the ceiling.
- Noun (Upper Limit):
- The government imposed a ceiling on interest rates.
- There is a ceiling on the amount you can contribute each year.
- Noun (Aviation):
- The aircraft's service ceiling is 45,000 feet.
- Noun (Meteorology):
- The weather report stated the ceiling was 1,000 feet, limiting visibility.
Advanced Usage
- "to hit the ceiling": To become very angry or lose one's temper.
- When he saw the bill, he hit the ceiling.
- "glass ceiling": An unofficially acknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and minorities.
- She worked hard to break through the glass ceiling in her industry.
Variants and Related Words
- Ceilinged (adj): Having a ceiling of a specified kind.
- The cathedral is a high-ceilinged building.
- Ceiling price (n): The maximum price set for a good or service.
- The ceiling price for the medication was established by the regulator.
Synonyms
- Upper limit: The highest allowable point or level.
- Cap: An upper limit, especially an official one.
- Maximum: The greatest or highest amount possible.
Related Phrases
- Debt ceiling: The maximum amount of money a government is authorized to borrow.
- Congress is debating whether to raise the debt ceiling.
- Price ceiling: A government-imposed maximum price that can be charged for a product.
- The price ceiling on rent was intended to help tenants.
Related Idioms
- "Through the ceiling": Rising to a very high level.
- After the announcement, sales went through the ceiling.
Noun
- maximum altitude at which a plane can fly (under specified conditions)
- an upper limit on what is allowed
- he put a ceiling on the number of women who worked for him
- there was a roof on salaries
- they established a cap for prices
- (meteorology) altitude of the lowest layer of clouds
- the overhead upper surface of a covered space
- he hated painting the ceiling