coat

noun, often attributive \ ˈkōt \

Definition of coat

1 a :an outer garment worn on the upper body and varying in length and style according to fashion and use

b :something resembling a coat

2 :the external growth on an animal

3 :a layer of one substance covering another

a coat of paint

—

coated

play \ˈkō-təd\ adjective

—

coatless

adjective

See coat defined for English-language learners

See coat defined for kids

Examples of coat in a Sentence

She put on her coat, hat, and gloves, and then she went outside.
He was wearing a coat and tie.
The dog has a thick coat.
The house needed three coats to cover the original paint.

Recent Examples of coat from the Web

With both men’s and women’s coats and jackets are available to purchase early — there’s something for everyone.

— indya brown, The Cut, "Here’s That Perfect Leather Jacket You Were Looking For," 28 Aug. 2017
Cora leaves London for a seaside Essex village, son and nanny Martha in tow, and sets out on her explorations, striding the English countryside in boots and an old coat, hunting fossils in the manner of Mary Anning.

— mary ann gwinn / lit life columnist, The Seattle Times, "Four new novels take us to another time and place," 21 Aug. 2017
When a male Sloane was not in a suit he could be seen wearing corduroy trousers—or khaki ones in the summer—and a big tweed coat or sheepskin jacket (most likely from Burberry or Barbour).

— olivia blair, Town & Country, "Looking Back at the Official Sloane Ranger Handbook 35 Years Later," 18 Aug. 2017
As fate would have it, the O'Dette family didn't need to pack their winter coats, bulky sweaters and snow boots.

— pat disabato, Post-Tribune, "Disabato: Rick O'Dette leaves St. Joseph's to coach baseball in Florida," 12 Aug. 2017
In this Wednesday, July 26, 2017, photo, a mural of the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in a white lab coat holding up a bottle of beer is seen at the entrance of the Taedonggang Brewery in Pyongyang, North Korea.

— Washington Post, "N. Korea mysteriously nixes beer fest, but unveils new brew," 26 July 2017
New cast members Paul Reiser (in a lab coat) and Sean Astin (running for his life in some scrubs) join the rest of the usual suspects, as fans of the series settle in for the long wait until October 27.

— vanityfair.com, "First Stranger Things Season 2 Trailer Reveals Eleven’s Anticipated Return," 22 July 2017
Kate spent the morning in a polar opposite look, donning a beautiful cornflower blue coat dress by Catherine Walker (which was matched by every other royal family member, naturally): Cheers to an exceptionally stylish back-to-back, ma'am:

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "Kate Middleton Is Red-Hot In This Off-The-Shoulder Dress," 20 July 2017
The line brings Anderson’s penchant for traditional British prints and staples (think plaid puffers, tweed coats, and Fair Isle sweaters) with Uniqlo’s signature materials and fabrications (from its extra fine merino to its HeatTech technology).

— ana colon, Glamour, "Uniqlo's Collaboration with J.W. Anderson: Here's Your First Look," 18 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of coat

Middle English cote, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German kozza coarse wool mantle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

coat Synonyms

Synonyms

fur, fleece, hair, jacket, pelage, pile, wool

Related Words

undercoat, underfur; hide, leather, pelt, skin

coat

verb

Definition of coat

transitive verb

1 :to cover with a coat

2 :to cover or spread with a finishing, protecting, or enclosing layer

—

coater

noun

See coat defined for English-language learners

Examples of coat in a Sentence

Rock dust coated his hair.
My shoes are coated with mud.
Coat the chicken with flour.

Recent Examples of coat from the Web

Dip the fish into the egg wash, then place first in the flour, then in the cornmeal, until completely coated.

— nancy miller, The Courier-Journal, "Latin fusion flavors shine at taco-centric Migo," 25 July 2017
But recent outbreaks of toxic algae in lakes and ponds across the country have shut down some of these swimming spots, leaving the water surface coated in green and posing a threaten to human and animal health.

— anthea levi, Health.com, "Toxic Algae Can Grow in Lakes and Ponds. Here's How to Protect Yourself," 6 July 2017
Breadcrumbs that might cause an allergeic reaction coating your chicken nuggets?

— david j. neal, miamiherald, "Bones and milk cause recalls of not-so-Yummy chicken nuggets and patties," 25 June 2017
The cedar siding was primed and top-coated on all sides in a factory.

— cynthia billhartz gregorian, kansascity.com, "Contemporary farmhouse pays homage to couple’s different backgrounds," 23 June 2017
The C Avenue house filled with smoke and soot coated all the walls and furnishings, causing an estimated $22,500 in damage, Coronado fire Battalion Chief Perry Peake said.

— pauline repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Hoverboard on charger sparks fire in Coronado home," 17 June 2017
In California, forecasters said prolonged heat would make snow melt faster in the Sierra Nevada, where massive winter storms coated towering peaks after years of drought.

— john antczak, The Seattle Times, "Southwest US preps for 120 temps: Water, water, more water," 16 June 2017
Bake on a cookie sheet coated with cooking spray in oven set at 350 degrees for 18 minutes.

— philip potempa, Post-Tribune, "Strawberry season a traditional and delicious family affair," 9 June 2017
Myelin, the fatty substance that coats the neurons and allows the brain to function efficiently, increases, affording a burst of neural activity.

— megan garber, The Atlantic, "Why Adolescence Lasts Forever," 7 June 2017

First Known Use of coat

14th century

coat Synonyms

Synonyms

blanket, carpet, cover, overlay, overlie, overspread, sheet

Related Words

enclose (also inclose), enrobe, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, mantle, shawl, shroud, swathe, wrap; cloak, clothe, curtain, veil; circle, encircle, encompass

COAT Defined for English Language Learners

coat

noun

Definition of coat for English Language Learners

: an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry
: a piece of clothing that is worn over a shirt as part of a suit
: the outer covering of fur, hair, or wool on an animal

coat

verb

Definition of coat for English Language Learners

: to cover (something or someone) with a thin layer of something

COAT Defined for Kids

coat

noun \ ˈkōt \

Definition of coat for Students

1 :an outer garment worn especially for warmth

2 :the outer covering (as fur or feathers) of an animal

3 :a layer of material covering a surface

a coat of paint

—

coated

\-əd\ adjective

coat

verb

Definition of coat for Students

coated; coating

:to cover with a coat or covering

Medical Dictionary

coat

noun \ ˈkōt \

medical Definition of coat

1 :the external growth on an animal

2 :a layer of one substance covering or lining another; especially :one covering or lining an organ

the coat of the eyeball

Learn More about coat

See words that rhyme with coat Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for coat Spanish Central: Translation of coat Nglish: Translation of coat for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of coat for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coat

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coat

Definition of coat

coated

coatless

From the M-W Editors

Examples of coat in a Sentence

Recent Examples of coat from the Web

Origin and Etymology of coat

coat Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

coat

Definition of coat

coater

Examples of coat in a Sentence

Recent Examples of coat from the Web

First Known Use of coat

coat Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to COAT

Related Phrases

COAT Defined for English Language Learners

coat

Definition of coat for English Language Learners

coat

Definition of coat for English Language Learners

COAT Defined for Kids

coat

Definition of coat for Students

coated

coat

Definition of coat for Students

Medical Dictionary

coat

medical Definition of coat

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