umbrella

n. parasol, portable cover to protect from rain or sun which is held up by a supporting frame; parasol-like body of a jellyfish; something that protects from above

adj. comprehensive, inclusive; pertaining to that which acts as an umbrella

An umbrella or parasol (sometimes colloquially, brolly, or bumbershoot) is a canopy device designed to protect from precipitation or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun, and umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain. Often the difference is the material; a parasol would sometimes not be waterproof. Parasols are often meant to be fixed to one point and often used with patio tables or other outdoor furniture, or on the beach for shelter from the sun. Umbrellas are almost exclusively hand-held portable devices, however parasols can also be hand-held.
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Noun
1. a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
(hypernym) canopy
(hyponym) gamp, brolly
(part-meronym) gore
2. a formation of military planes maintained over ground operations or targets; "an air umbrella over England"
(hypernym) defense, defence, defensive measure
(classification) military, armed forces, armed services, military machine, war machine
3. having the function of uniting a group of similar things; "the Democratic Party is an umbrella for many liberal groups"; "under the umbrella of capitalism"
(hypernym) union, unification, uniting, conjugation, jointure
Adjective
1. covering or applying simultaneously to a number of similar items or elements or groups; "an umbrella organization"; "umbrella insurance coverage"
(similar) comprehensive

(n.)
The umbrellalike disk, or swimming bell, of a jellyfish.
  

(n.)
Any marine tectibranchiate gastropod of the genus Umbrella, having an umbrella-shaped shell; -- called also umbrella shell.
  

(n.)
A shade, screen, or guard, carried in the hand for sheltering the person from the rays of the sun, or from rain or snow. It is formed of silk, cotton, or other fabric, extended on strips of whalebone, steel, or other elastic material, inserted, or fastened to, a rod or stick by means of pivots or hinges, in such a way as to allow of being opened and closed with ease. See Parasol.
  

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umbrella