Added 6 October 2026
wrap
/ɹæp/ verb
In Latin: involvo, velo Wiktionary
verb Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about wrap at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
To enclose (an object) completely in any flexible, thin material such as fabric or paper.
Christmas gifts are commonly known to be wrapped in paper.
-
To enclose or coil around an object or organism, as a form of grasping.
A snake wraps itself around its prey.
- To conceal by enveloping or enfolding; to hide.
noun
- Paper or sheeting that is wrapped around something to protect, contain, or conceal it. A large sheet of self-adhesive material applied over a vehicle's paintwork for decorative or protective purposes.
- A large sheet of self-adhesive material applied over a vehicle's paintwork for decorative or protective purposes.
- A loose piece of women's clothing that one wraps around the body; a shawl or scarf.
noun
- Alternative spelling of rap (“appraisal”).
Origin
From Middle English wrappen (“to wrap, fold”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps related to North Frisian wrappe (“to press into; stop up”), dialectal Danish vrappe (“to stuff, cram”), Middle Low German rincworpen (“to envelop, wrap”), Middle Low German wrempen (“to wrinkle, scrunch the face”), all perhaps tied to Proto-Indo-European *werp-, *werb- (“to turn, twist, bend”). Compare also similar-sounding and similar-meaning Middle English wlappen (“to wrap, lap, envelop, fold”), Middle Dutch lappen (“to wrap up”), Old Italian goluppare (“to wrap”) (from Germanic). Doublet of lap; related to envelop, develop. Also compare Latin verber (“whip, lash”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)