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Definition of ceiling

ceiling

/ˈsiː.lɪŋ/
ceil · ing
Plural:ceilings
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ceiling Lexical Profile

ceiling Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The upper interior surface of a room or other enclosed space.

Example

"She stared at the intricate plasterwork on the ceiling while trying to fall asleep."

2

An upper limit, typically one set on prices, wages, or allowable expenditures.

Example

"The government imposed a strict price ceiling on basic food items to prevent inflation during the crisis."

3

The maximum altitude an aircraft can safely reach, or the height of the lowest layer of clouds.

Example

"The pilot could not fly over the mountain range due to a dangerously low cloud ceiling."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for ceiling
Antonyms
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• Rhymes for ceiling

• Nearby Words

cedar river
cedar waxwing
cedrate
ceiling
celandine
celebrex
celeriac

Word Origin & Etymology

Middle English 'celing', from the verb 'celen' (to panel or cover), likely derived from Latin 'caelare' (to engrave or carve) and influenced by Latin 'caelum' (heaven or sky).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ceiling. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ceiling
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