wrap

1 of 3

verb

wrapped; wrapping

transitive verb

1
a
: to cover especially by winding or folding
b
: to envelop and secure for transportation or storage : bundle
d
: to coil, fold, draw, or twine (such as string or cloth) around something
2
b
: to suffuse or surround with an aura or state
the affair was wrapped in scandal
c
: to involve completely : engross
usually used with up
3
: to conceal or obscure as if by enveloping
4
: to enclose as if with a protective covering
5
: to finish filming or recording
wrap a movie

intransitive verb

1
: to wind, coil, or twine so as to encircle or cover something
2
: to put on clothing : dress
usually used with up
3
: to be subject to covering, enclosing, or packaging
usually used with up
4
: to come to completion in filming or recording

wrap

2 of 3

noun

1
a(1)
(2)
: material used for wrapping
plastic wrap
b
: an article of clothing that may be wrapped around a person
especially : an outer garment (such as a coat or shawl)
c
d
: a treatment for the care of the skin in which material (such as hot wet cloth or seaweed) is wrapped around the entire body
also : this material
2
: a single turn or convolution of something wound around an object
3
wraps plural
a
b
: a shroud of secrecy
a plan kept under wraps
4
: the completion of a schedule or session for filming or recording
5
: a thin flat piece of bread that is rolled around a filling (as of meat, fish, or vegetables)

wrap

3 of 3

adjective

Examples of wrap in a Sentence

Verb They were busy wrapping presents late on Christmas Eve. Ribbons were wrapped around the dancers' arms. She wrapped a scarf around her neck. He wrapped tape around the bat's handle. I wrapped my arms around her. She wrapped her legs around a pillow. He wrapped his hands around the trophy. The line of people went out the door and wrapped around the corner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
One suspects that Liu’s world is so abstract that even the best adaptation possible will be difficult for some viewers to fully wrap their heads around, a hurdle that will only grow higher as the series continues. Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 The sheer fabric wrapped around her neck, then around her shoulders and ribcage, framing her chest that only included one layer of fabric exposing her nipples. Stacy Lambe, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 This is the once and future Queen of Hip-Hop’s first tour since The Nicki Wrld Tour wrapped in 2019. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Compare that to the clay vessel across the room wrapped in a gold chain, blowing a pink bubblegum bubble. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Then there’s Arrival, which is basically a linguistics lesson wrapped in a sci-fi feature and all the more engrossing because of it. Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2024 Finally, take the thin ribbon and wrap it around the egg, finishing it with a bow. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2024 Offering the perfect blend between loose-fitting and structured, this pullover wraps you in instant warmth and even has a front pocket to keep your hands warm and your must-haves close. Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2024 Using Coanda airflow instead of extreme heat, the Dyson Airwrap collects your hair and wraps it around the barrel — effectively curling it using air pressure. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
The Montreux Jazz Festival Miami is a wrap The Montreux Jazz Festival Miami — headlined and co-owned by Jon Batiste — made its grand debut at The Hangar in Coconut Grove on March 1. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 9 Mar. 2024 The V-neck wrap dress features cute ruffle short sleeves, an elastic high waist with a tie belt, and a pleated hem. Rachel Simon, Southern Living, 9 Mar. 2024 Forecasters said rain is expected to turn to wet snow from the Great Lakes to northern New England, specifically in the higher elevations, as cold air wraps around a low pressure center. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024 With a timeout called shortly after, Adebayo limped straight to the locker room before returning to the Heat’s bench with a wrap around his back. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 Drake and Cole's tour kicked off Feb. 2 in Tampa, Florida, and wraps in April in Denver. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 The combination of these two ingredients brings savory meatiness to these little veggie wraps and will lure you back for second (and third) helpings. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024 In fact, Amazon shoppers love this cute faux wrap style that’s on sale for under $50. Carly Totten, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2024 From her intrinsic ‘90s head wraps to experimental foil fringe cut in 2019, take a look at the artist’s best beauty looks of all time to celebrate her birthday. Essence, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Though, our personal favorite is this wrap knee-length sweater dress that comes in three neutral colors and can be dressed up (with some nice booties and a wool peacoat) or down (with a pair of white sneakers). Melanie Curry, Glamour, 26 Dec. 2023 The Lakers sported athletic tape around their wrists with the word ‘redemption’ emblazoned across the pre-wrap. Cam Kerry, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Nov. 2022 Worn as a single long necklace, wrapped into a choker style or a multi-wrap bracelet, or even strung around the hips as a belt, the piece is bound to strike a chord. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 14 Nov. 2022 Wrap cheese in waxed paper and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Molly Kimball, NOLA.com, 29 Aug. 2017 Wrap pencil with washi tape keeping it as tight as possible. Sarah Newell, Seventeen, 9 Aug. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wrap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wrappen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wrap was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near wrap

Cite this Entry

“Wrap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrap. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wrap

1 of 2 verb
wrapped; wrapping
1
a
: to cover especially by winding or folding
wrap a baby in a blanket
b
: to enclose and prepare (as for transportation or storage)
wrap a package
c
: embrace entry 1 sense 1
wrapped her in my arms
d
: to coil, fold, or draw about something
wrap a rubber band around the sticks
2
a
: to envelop closely or completely : surround
houses wrapped in mist
b
: to involve completely : engross
they were wrapped up in studying for exams
3
: to finish filming or recording
wrap a movie

wrap

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: a covering that encloses something : wrapper
b
: material for wrapping
plastic wrap
2
: an article of clothing that may be wrapped around a person
especially : a warm loose outer garment (as a coat or shawl)
3
plural : secrecy sense 2
a plan kept under wraps
4
: the completion of a schedule or session for filming or recording

More from Merriam-Webster on wrap

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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