ceiling

From Middle English ceiling, from ceil (“to cover”) + -ing.

• IPA^(key): /ˈsiːlɪŋ/

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• Rhymes: -iːlɪŋ
• Homophone: sealing
• Hyphenation: ceil‧ing

ceiling (plural ceilings)

1. The overhead closure of a room.
   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 1, in The China Governess‎:

     The huge square box, parquet-floored and high-ceilinged, had been arranged to display a suite of bedroom furniture designed and made in the halcyon days of the last quarter of the nineteenth century, […].

   the dining room had an ornate ceiling

2. The upper limit of an object or action.

   price ceilings

3. (aviation) The highest altitude at which an aircraft can safely maintain flight.
4. (meteorology) The measurement of visible distance from ground or sea level to an overcast cloud cover; under a clear sky, the ceiling measurement is identified as "unlimited."

   Even though it was cloudy, there was still enough ceiling for the Blue Angels to perform a great show.

5. (mathematics) The smallest integer greater than or equal to a given number.

   the ceiling of 4.5 is 5, the ceiling of -4.5 is -4

6. (nautical) The inner planking of a vessel.

• floor

ceiling

1. present participle of ceil

• cieling