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REFERENCE

ceiling

n.
US //ˈsiɫɪŋ// UK //sˈiːlɪŋ// ceil·ing
  1. 1 top of a room (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the inside surface at the top of a room.

    the overhead interior surface that bounds the upper limit of a room.

    Example

    The living room has a very high ceiling with a beautiful glass lamp.

    Example

    The restoration team spent months carefully cleaning the ornate plasterwork on the ballroom ceiling to reveal the original eighteenth-century gold leaf.
  2. 2 an upper limit (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the highest amount or level that is allowed or possible.

    an upper limit, especially one that is officially set for prices, wages, or spending.

    Example

    The government has put a ceiling on how much rent landlords can charge.

    Example

    Economists argue that a rigid price ceiling may lead to a shortage of essential goods by discouraging manufacturers from increasing production.
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  1. 3 aviation altitude (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the highest altitude an aircraft can reach, or the height of the lowest clouds.

    the maximum altitude at which an aircraft can fly, or the height of the base of the lowest layer of clouds.

    Example

    The pilot had to fly lower because the cloud ceiling was dropping fast.

    Example

    Due to the heavy storm, the cloud ceiling was less than five hundred feet, making a visual approach to the runway impossible for the incoming flight.
    • altitude limit
  2. 4 mathematics (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Math

    the smallest whole number that is greater than or equal to a specific number.

    the smallest integer greater than or equal to a given real number.

    Example

    The ceiling of 4.2 is 5.

    Example

    In this algorithm, we apply the ceiling function to the result to ensure we have enough containers for all the items.
Origin

From Middle English celing (“paneling; (bed) cover or hanging”), from celen (“to cover or panel walls”) (from Old French celer (“to conceal”)) + -ing (gerund-forming suffix). By surface analysis, ceil + -ing.

Idioms4 entries

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