ceiling

noun ceil·ing \ ˈsē-liŋ \

Updated on: 4 Dec 2017

Definition of ceiling

1 a : the overhead inside lining of a room

The room has a high ceiling.

b : material used to ceil a wall or roof of a room

2 : something thought of as an overhanging shelter or a lofty canopy

a ceiling of stars

3 a : the height above the ground from which prominent objects on the ground can be seen and identified

b : the height above the ground of the base of the lowest layer of clouds when over half of the sky is obscured

4 a : absolute ceiling

b : service ceiling

5 : an upper usually prescribed limit

a ceiling on prices, rents, and wages

—

ceilinged

play \-liŋd\ adjective

See ceiling defined for English-language learners

See ceiling defined for kids

Examples of ceiling in a Sentence

The house has low ceilings.
The airplane has a ceiling of 32,000 feet.

Recent Examples of ceiling from the Web

Lucas’ ordinance would place a $500,000 ceiling on any construction agreement without council authorization.

— bill turque, kansascity, "KC city manager dares council to fire him: ‘I’ll earn more money and sleep better’ | The Kansas City Star," 25 Oct. 2017
She has long sung in choirs, appreciating the grand acoustics of a domed ceiling.

— jenna ross, idahostatesman, "‘Quietest place on Earth’ finds purpose in healing humans | Idaho Statesman," 22 Oct. 2017
The threat of falling through a collapsing ceiling, an elevator shaft or oxygen deprivation is not the only on-the-job danger today's firefighters have to worry about.

— byron mccauley, Cincinnati.com, "Bulletproof vests for Cincinnati firefighters? How did we get here?," 12 Oct. 2017
If there’s a ceiling to what the ultrarich are prepared to pay, carmakers have yet to hit it.

— Car and Driver, "20 Tough Questions About the Auto Industry in 2018," 10 Oct. 2017
If your peepers need a break from the brightness, duck into Matilda Midnight, a lounge dimly lit by a starry ceiling. Perks include valet parking, a gym pass, breakfast and iced sugar cookies sparkling under a glass dome.

— andrea sachs, chicagotribune.com, "Where to stay, eat and explore in Chattanooga, Tenn.," 25 Sep. 2017
With the debt ceiling suspended, the government’s total gross debt passed $20trn for the first time.

— The Economist, "Politics this week," 14 Sep. 2017
The headlines emerged in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Associated Press after the president made a deal with Democrats to extend the debt ceiling.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Seth Meyers Dismantled the 'Independent Trump' Media Fantasy," 12 Sep. 2017
Ivanka's public appearance today also comes on the heels of news that the first daughter had dropped by an Oval Office meeting about disaster relief funding and the debt ceiling, and changed the conversation to talking about the child tax credit.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "President Trump Brings Ivanka On Stage to Say Hi During His Tax Reform Speech in North Dakota," 6 Sep. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of ceiling

Middle English celing, from celen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1535

See Words from the same year

ceiling Synonyms

Synonyms

bound, boundary, cap, limit, confines, end, extent, limitation, line, termination

Related Words

extremity, fag end, terminus; border, brim, edge, margin, rim, verge; outside; bar, barrier, fence, hedge, restraint, stop, wall

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

CEILING Defined for English Language Learners

ceiling

noun

Definition of ceiling for English Language Learners

: the inside surface at the top of a room
: an upper limit
: the greatest height at which an aircraft can fly

CEILING Defined for Kids

ceiling

noun ceil·ing \ ˈsē-liŋ \

Definition of ceiling for Students

1 : the overhead inside surface of a room

2 : the greatest height at which an airplane can fly properly

3 : the height above the ground of the bottom of the lowest layer of clouds

4 : an upper limit

a ceiling on prices

History for ceiling

As we now line a coat with a lining, we also used to ceil a room with a ceiling. The verb ceil, however, is now very seldom used on its own. Originally to ceil was to cover the surfaces of a room—both above and on the sides—with a coating of plaster or with carved panels. Ceiling could once mean nearly the same as “paneling,” but the only sense we now use refers only to what is overhead in a room.