Antonyms for ceiling
| Grammar : Noun |
| Spell : see-ling |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈsi lɪŋ |
Definition of ceiling
Origin :- mid-14c., celynge, "act of paneling a room," noun formed (with -ing) from Middle English verb ceil "put a cover or ceiling over," later "cover (walls) with wainscoting, panels, etc." (early 15c.); probably from Middle French celer "to conceal," also "cover with paneling" (12c.), from Latin celare (see cell). Probably influenced by Latin caelum "heaven, sky" (see celestial).
- Extended to the paneling itself from late 14c. The meaning "top surface of a room" is attested by 1530s. Figurative sense "upper limit" is from 1934. Colloquial figurative phrase hit the ceiling "lose one's temper, get explosively angry" attested by 1908; earlier it meant "to fail" (by 1900, originally U.S. college slang). Glass ceiling in the figurative sense of "invisible barrier that prevents women from advancing" in management, etc., is attested from 1988.
- noun top of a room
- noun maximum
- They pass up the church-aisle, and raise their eyes to the ceiling.
- Extract from : « The New Adam and Eve (From "Mosses From An Old Manse") » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- She raised her blue eyes toward the ceiling in a naive rapture.
- Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana
- Mrs Verloc, on her back, and staring at the ceiling, made a remark.
- Extract from : « The Secret Agent » by Joseph Conrad
- His eyes ran over the walls, took in the ceiling, noted the floor—all in a moment.
- Extract from : « The Secret Agent » by Joseph Conrad
- Mr Pecksniff looked up to the ceiling, and clasped his hands in rapture.
- Extract from : « Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit » by Charles Dickens
- Mr. Stryver was lying back on his sofa, winking at his ceiling.
- Extract from : « A Tale of Two Cities » by Charles Dickens
- "Say he name Law," Gertrude replied, looking at the ceiling to express her fatigue.
- Extract from : « Alice Adams » by Booth Tarkington
- "Well——" he said, and went on slowly, not looking at her, but at the ceiling.
- Extract from : « Alice Adams » by Booth Tarkington
- But the ceiling was a ceiling indeed; for the sun, moon, and stars lived there.
- Extract from : « Ranald Bannerman's Boyhood » by George MacDonald
- On the ceiling of this marvelous hall he could see carved the stars of heaven.
- Extract from : « Classic Myths » by Mary Catherine Judd
Synonyms for ceiling
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019