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Flag: gbEnglishMerriam-Webster Dictionary
ˈen-və-ˌlōp ˈän-

Definition

  • a flat usually paper container (as for a letter)
  • something that envelops wrapper //the envelope of air around the earth
  • the outer covering of an aerostat
    the bag containing the gas in a balloon or airship
  • a natural enclosing covering (such as a membrane, shell, or integument)
    a lipoprotein unit membrane that forms the outer layer of some virions
  • a curve tangent to each of a family of curves
    a surface tangent to each of a family of surfaces
  • a set of performance limits (as of an aircraft) that may not be safely exceeded
    also the set of operating parameters that exists within these limits
  • a conventionally accepted limit //new computers that push the envelope
How do you pronounce envelope?
The \ˈen-\ and \ˈän-\ pronunciations are used with about equal frequency, and both are fully acceptable, though the \ˈän-\ version is sometimes decried as "pseudo-French." Actually \ˈän-\ is exactly what one would expect to hear when a French word like entrepreneur is becoming anglicized. Envelope, however, has been in English for nearly 300 years, plenty of time for it to become completely anglicized and for both of its pronunciations to win respectability.
First Known Use
circa 1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1
es​sen​tial
adjective
es·​sen·​tial
i-ˈsen(t)-shəl

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • of, relating to, or constituting essence:
    constituting the basic nature of a thing inherent //I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach … — Henry David Thoreau //She stole glances at the smoothness of his face, and the essential boyishness of him … — Jack London
    fundamental, basic //Freedom of speech is essential to democracy. //The essential problem with this plan is the cost.
  • of the utmost importance indispensable, necessary //essential workers //an essential requirement for admission to college //… essential aid including water, ice and food. — Steven J. Horowitz
    being a substance that is not synthesized by the body in a quantity sufficient for normal health and growth and that must be obtained from the diet //a vegetable oil rich in essential fatty acids
    — see also essential amino acid
    — compare nonessential sense 2
  • medical idiopathic //essential disease //essential hypertension
noun

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • something basic or fundamental —usually used in plural //pantry essentials like flour and sugar //learning the essentials of grammar
  • something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable //A picnic should be held among green things. Green turf is absolutely an essential. — Anthony Trollope —usually used in plural //… working one job should afford you a safe place to call home and essentials such as food and transportation … — Yassamin Ansari
Other Words
Adjective
  • es​sen​tial​ness i-ˈsen(t)-shəl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
all-important critical imperative indispensable integral must-have necessary necessitous needed needful required requisite vital
Synonyms: Noun
condition demand must must-have necessary necessity need needful requirement requisite sine qua non
Antonyms: Adjective
dispensable inessential needless nonessential unessential unnecessary unneeded
Antonyms: Noun
nonessential nonnecessity
Examples
Adjective
  • //As a fighter pilot, he knows that good vision is essential.
  • //Free speech is an essential right of citizenship.
  • //The essential problem with this plan is that it will cost too much.
  • //There's no essential difference between the two products.
Noun
  • //the essentials for success include a willingness to work and the right attitude
  • //this will be just an introduction to the essentials of computer programming
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
circa 1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1
essential
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

es​sen​tial
adjective
es·​sen·​tial
i-ˈsen(t)-shəl

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • of, relating to, or constituting essence:
    constituting the basic nature of a thing inherent //I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach … — Henry David Thoreau //She stole glances at the smoothness of his face, and the essential boyishness of him … — Jack London
    fundamental, basic //Freedom of speech is essential to democracy. //The essential problem with this plan is the cost.
  • of the utmost importance indispensable, necessary //essential workers //an essential requirement for admission to college //… essential aid including water, ice and food. — Steven J. Horowitz
    being a substance that is not synthesized by the body in a quantity sufficient for normal health and growth and that must be obtained from the diet //a vegetable oil rich in essential fatty acids
    — see also essential amino acid
    — compare nonessential sense 2
  • medical idiopathic //essential disease //essential hypertension
noun

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • something basic or fundamental —usually used in plural //pantry essentials like flour and sugar //learning the essentials of grammar
  • something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable //A picnic should be held among green things. Green turf is absolutely an essential. — Anthony Trollope —usually used in plural //… working one job should afford you a safe place to call home and essentials such as food and transportation … — Yassamin Ansari
Other Words
Adjective
  • es​sen​tial​ness i-ˈsen(t)-shəl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
all-important critical imperative indispensable integral must-have necessary necessitous needed needful required requisite vital
Synonyms: Noun
condition demand must must-have necessary necessity need needful requirement requisite sine qua non
Antonyms: Adjective
dispensable inessential needless nonessential unessential unnecessary unneeded
Antonyms: Noun
nonessential nonnecessity
Examples
Adjective
  • //As a fighter pilot, he knows that good vision is essential.
  • //Free speech is an essential right of citizenship.
  • //The essential problem with this plan is that it will cost too much.
  • //There's no essential difference between the two products.
Noun
  • //the essentials for success include a willingness to work and the right attitude
  • //this will be just an introduction to the essentials of computer programming
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
circa 1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1
essential
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

es​sen​tial
adjective
es·​sen·​tial
i-ˈsen(t)-shəl

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • of, relating to, or constituting essence:
    constituting the basic nature of a thing inherent //I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach … — Henry David Thoreau //She stole glances at the smoothness of his face, and the essential boyishness of him … — Jack London
    fundamental, basic //Freedom of speech is essential to democracy. //The essential problem with this plan is the cost.
  • of the utmost importance indispensable, necessary //essential workers //an essential requirement for admission to college //… essential aid including water, ice and food. — Steven J. Horowitz
    being a substance that is not synthesized by the body in a quantity sufficient for normal health and growth and that must be obtained from the diet //a vegetable oil rich in essential fatty acids
    — see also essential amino acid
    — compare nonessential sense 2
  • medical idiopathic //essential disease //essential hypertension
noun

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • something basic or fundamental —usually used in plural //pantry essentials like flour and sugar //learning the essentials of grammar
  • something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable //A picnic should be held among green things. Green turf is absolutely an essential. — Anthony Trollope —usually used in plural //… working one job should afford you a safe place to call home and essentials such as food and transportation … — Yassamin Ansari
Other Words
Adjective
  • es​sen​tial​ness i-ˈsen(t)-shəl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
all-important critical imperative indispensable integral must-have necessary necessitous needed needful required requisite vital
Synonyms: Noun
condition demand must must-have necessary necessity need needful requirement requisite sine qua non
Antonyms: Adjective
dispensable inessential needless nonessential unessential unnecessary unneeded
Antonyms: Noun
nonessential nonnecessity
Examples
Adjective
  • //As a fighter pilot, he knows that good vision is essential.
  • //Free speech is an essential right of citizenship.
  • //The essential problem with this plan is that it will cost too much.
  • //There's no essential difference between the two products.
Noun
  • //the essentials for success include a willingness to work and the right attitude
  • //this will be just an introduction to the essentials of computer programming
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
circa 1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1
essential
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)

es​sen​tial
adjective
es·​sen·​tial
i-ˈsen(t)-shəl

Definition (Entry 1 of 2)

  • of, relating to, or constituting essence:
    constituting the basic nature of a thing inherent //I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach … — Henry David Thoreau //She stole glances at the smoothness of his face, and the essential boyishness of him … — Jack London
    fundamental, basic //Freedom of speech is essential to democracy. //The essential problem with this plan is the cost.
  • of the utmost importance indispensable, necessary //essential workers //an essential requirement for admission to college //… essential aid including water, ice and food. — Steven J. Horowitz
    being a substance that is not synthesized by the body in a quantity sufficient for normal health and growth and that must be obtained from the diet //a vegetable oil rich in essential fatty acids
    — see also essential amino acid
    — compare nonessential sense 2
  • medical idiopathic //essential disease //essential hypertension
noun

Definition (Entry 2 of 2)

  • something basic or fundamental —usually used in plural //pantry essentials like flour and sugar //learning the essentials of grammar
  • something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable //A picnic should be held among green things. Green turf is absolutely an essential. — Anthony Trollope —usually used in plural //… working one job should afford you a safe place to call home and essentials such as food and transportation … — Yassamin Ansari
Other Words
Adjective
  • es​sen​tial​ness i-ˈsen(t)-shəl-nəs noun
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms: Adjective
all-important critical imperative indispensable integral must-have necessary necessitous needed needful required requisite vital
Synonyms: Noun
condition demand must must-have necessary necessity need needful requirement requisite sine qua non
Antonyms: Adjective
dispensable inessential needless nonessential unessential unnecessary unneeded
Antonyms: Noun
nonessential nonnecessity
Examples
Adjective
  • //As a fighter pilot, he knows that good vision is essential.
  • //Free speech is an essential right of citizenship.
  • //The essential problem with this plan is that it will cost too much.
  • //There's no essential difference between the two products.
Noun
  • //the essentials for success include a willingness to work and the right attitude
  • //this will be just an introduction to the essentials of computer programming
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
circa 1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1
essential
noun

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 1 of 2)

adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms (Entry 2 of 2)