umbrella

noun

1. A cloth-covered frame used for protection against rain or sun.

   “Quick, grab that umbrella before you get rained on!”

   “There was a neat hat-and-umbrella stand, and the stranger's weary feet fell soft on a good, serviceable dark-red drugget, which matched in colour the flock-paper on the walls.”

   “When the [lost property] office first opened, the most frequently lost items were umbrellas. Every white-collar professional carried one, but despite, or because of, that they were easily forgotten about. […] In the 1930s, a quarter of a million umbrellas a year came into the office. Now it's more like 10,000.”

2. (figuratively)Anything that provides similar protection.

   “The fighters provide a defensive air umbrella over the battle group.”

3. (figuratively)Anything that provides similar overarching coverage of a range of concepts, purposes, groups, etc.

   “The test facility was established under the umbrella of the company's quality program.”

4. A strategy in which five players in the offensive zone form an umbrella-shaped formation around the opposition's goal net.
5. The main body of a jellyfish, excluding the tentacles.

   “Jellyfish are composed of more than 90% water and most of their umbrella mass is made up of gelatinous material.”

6. An umbrella-shaped reflector with a white or silvery inner surface, used to diffuse a nearby light.

   “Using umbrellas for shooting a wedding party is ok, but not necessary.”

verb

1. (transitive)To cover or protect, as if by an umbrella.

   “Experts with saws and ladders came and lopped off the lower branches. This sent the tree's growth rushing violently to her head in a lush overhanging which umbrellaed the House of All Sorts.”

   “Huge pine and eucalyptus umbrellaed the grounds, airconditioning the morning.”

2. (intransitive)To form the dome shape of an open umbrella.

   “Bright yellow gowns fit them tightly and umbrellaed from their waist to just below the knees.”

3. (intransitive)To move like a jellyfish.

   “The light catches the filigreed tendrils and graceful motion of the jellies, their orange bodies umbrella-ing along like fairy parasols come to life.”