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Envelop vs. Envelope — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
Envelop is a verb meaning to wrap or cover completely, while envelope is a noun referring to a flat paper container for letters.
Envelop vs. Envelope — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Envelop and Envelope

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Key Differences

Envelop is a verb that implies an action of covering or surrounding something completely. Envelope, on the other hand, is a noun that refers to a common stationery item.
Envelop can be used in both literal and metaphorical contexts. Envelope is used specifically to denote a paper container used for mailing documents.
The pronunciation differs: Envelop is pronounced with a stress on the second syllable, while envelope has the stress on the first. Envelop can imply concealment or protection, whereas an envelope is simply a container.
Envelop can be used in various phrases like "envelop in mystery" or "envelop with care". Envelope is often associated with phrases like "pushing the envelope" or "return envelope".
Envelop suggests an act or process, indicative of action or change. An envelope is a static object, often implying communication or correspondence.
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Comparison Chart

Part of Speech

Verb
Noun

Meaning

To wrap or cover completely
A flat paper container for letters

Contextual Usage

Literal and metaphorical
Specific to stationery

Pronunciation

Stress on the second syllable (en-VEL-op)
Stress on the first syllable (EN-ve-lope)

Associated Phrases

"Envelop in mystery", "envelop with care"
"Pushing the envelope", "return envelope"

Compare with Definitions

Envelop

Surrounding completely.
The blanket enveloped him in warmth.

Envelope

A paper cover for letters.
He sealed the letter in an envelope.

Envelop

Hiding something from view.
Darkness enveloped the landscape.

Envelope

An item for enclosing correspondence.
She bought a pack of envelopes.

Envelop

Covering something entirely.
The fog began to envelop the city.

Envelope

A term in aeronautics for flight limitations.
The pilot tested the plane's envelope.

Envelop

Overwhelming completely.
Grief enveloped her after the news.

Envelope

An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin, flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter or card.

Envelop

Encircling or encompassing.
She felt enveloped by his love.

Envelope

A flat paper container with a sealable flap, used to enclose a letter or document.

Envelop

Wrap up, cover, or surround completely
A figure enveloped in a black cloak
A feeling of despair enveloped him

Envelope

A covering or containing structure or layer
The external envelope of the swimming pool

Envelop

To wrap, enclose, or cover
"Accompanying the darkness, a stillness envelops the city" (Curtis Wilkie).

Envelope

A flat paper container, especially for a letter, usually having a gummed flap.

Envelop

To surround
The troops enveloped the town.

Envelope

Something that envelops; a wrapping.

Envelop

(transitive) To surround or enclose.

Envelope

(Biology) An enclosing structure or cover, such as a membrane or the outer coat of a virus.

Envelop

To put a covering about; to wrap up or in; to inclose within a case, wrapper, integument or the like; to surround entirely; as, to envelop goods or a letter; the fog envelops a ship.
Nocturnal shades this world envelop.

Envelope

The bag containing the gas in a balloon or airship.

Envelop

Enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering;
Fog enveloped the house

Envelope

The set of limitations within which a technological system, especially an aircraft, can perform safely and effectively.

Envelope

A usually spherical region of interstellar matter surrounding a forming star and interacting with the star's gravitational and radiation fields.

Envelope

The coma of a comet.

Envelope

(Mathematics) A curve or surface that is tangent to every one of a family of curves or surfaces.

Envelope

A paper or cardboard wrapper used to enclose small, flat items, especially letters, for mailing.

Envelope

Something that envelops; a wrapping.

Envelope

A bag containing the lifting gas of a balloon or airship; fabric that encloses the gas-bags of an airship.

Envelope

(geometry) A mathematical curve, surface, or higher-dimensional object that is the tangent to a given family of lines, curves, surfaces, or higher-dimensional objects. Category:en:Curves

Envelope

(electronics) A curve that bounds another curve or set of curves, as the modulation envelope of an amplitude-modulated carrier wave in electronics.

Envelope

(music) The shape of a sound, which may be controlled by a synthesizer or sampler.

Envelope

(computing) The information used for routing a message that is transmitted with the message but not part of its contents.

Envelope

(biology) An enclosing structure or cover, such as a membrane; a space between two membranes

Envelope

(engineering) The set of limitations within which a technological system can perform safely and effectively.

Envelope

(astronomy) The nebulous covering of the head or nucleus of a comet; a coma.

Envelope

An earthwork in the form of a single parapet or a small rampart, sometimes raised in the ditch and sometimes beyond it.

Envelope

Archaic form of envelop

Envelope

That which envelops, wraps up, encases, or surrounds; a wrapper; an inclosing cover; esp., the cover or wrapper of a document, as of a letter.

Envelope

The nebulous covering of the head or nucleus of a comet; - called also coma.

Envelope

A work of earth, in the form of a single parapet or of a small rampart. It is sometimes raised in the ditch and sometimes beyond it.

Envelope

A curve or surface which is tangent to each member of a system of curves or surfaces, the form and position of the members of the system being allowed to vary according to some continuous law. Thus, any curve is the envelope of its tangents.

Envelope

A set of limits for the performance capabilities of some type of machine, originally used to refer to aircraft; - it is often described graphically as a two-dimensional graph of a function showing the maximum of one performance variable as a function of another. Now it is also used metaphorically to refer to capabilities of any system in general, including human organizations, esp. in the phrase push the envelope. It is used to refer to the maximum performance available at the current state of the technology, and therefore refers to a class of machines in general, not a specific machine.

Envelope

A flat rectangular paper container for papers

Envelope

Any wrapper or covering

Envelope

A curve that is tangent to each of a family of curves

Envelope

A natural covering (as by a fluid);
The spacecraft detected an envelope of gas around the comet

Envelope

The maximum operating capability of a system;
Test pilots try to push the envelope

Envelope

The bag containing the gas in a balloon

Envelope

Outer covering for documents.
The documents came in a sturdy envelope.

Envelope

A curve or surface tangent to each of a family of curves or surfaces.
The envelope of the family of lines was a parabola.

Common Curiosities

Can envelop be used in a threatening context?

Yes, it can imply an overwhelming or threatening action.

Are there different types of envelopes?

Yes, envelopes come in various sizes and types.

Can envelop be used as a noun?

No, envelop is only used as a verb.

Is envelop used in specific industries?

Yes, it's used in literary, psychological, and natural contexts.

Can envelop have positive connotations?

Yes, such as being enveloped in warmth or love.

Are envelopes recyclable?

Many are, but some with special linings may not be.

Do envelopes require postage?

Yes, when used for mailing.

Is an envelope only for paper mail?

Primarily, but it can also be used for small items.

Can envelop be used in a protective sense?

Absolutely, like enveloping someone in a hug.

Is envelope ever a verb?

No, envelope is typically used as a noun.

Are there electronic envelopes?

Yes, in the context of email or digital documents.

Are envelopes used in formal communication?

Yes, especially for formal letters or invitations.

Can envelop imply a gradual process?

Yes, it can imply a slow or gradual covering.

Does envelop have synonyms?

Yes, like shroud, cover, or encase.

Can envelope refer to shapes in mathematics?

Yes, it’s used in geometry and calculus.

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Dialogue vs. Dialog

Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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