enveloping
- 1Present participle and gerund of envelop.
A dense mist kept enveloping the harbor throughout the night.
The smoke spread quickly, enveloping the entire building within minutes.
Note
One spelling, two verbs: the -ing form of envelop looks exactly like that of the verb built on envelope. Here it means surrounding or enfolding, and it always takes an object: the mist was enveloping the harbor, not simply enveloping. It serves as a progressive participle (the smoke was enveloping the hall) and as a gerund (enveloping the town took minutes). The verb, unlike the noun, is stressed on its second syllable.
- 2Present participle and gerund of envelope.
The new machine handles folding, enveloping and sealing in a single pass.
Volunteers spent the evening folding and enveloping campaign letters.
Note
Built on the noun, this verb has two uncommon uses. The rare literal one is putting something into an envelope or wrapper, like foil around a candy bar. Older writing also used envelope as a spelling of the everyday verb meaning surround, a use now archaic. So when cloud is enveloping a peak, modern usage treats it as envelop. Keep this verb for actual wrapping.
enveloping is a form of envelop
envelop, verb: To surround, enclose, or enfold something. Full entry
- Spelling
- envelop → enveloping: add -ing
enveloping is a form of envelope
- Spelling
- envelope → enveloping: drop the e, add -ing
Practice
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