mantle

noun

/ˈmæntl/

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[singular] the mantle of somebody/something (literary) the role and responsibilities of an important person or job, especially when they are passed on from one person to another
- The vice-president must now take on the mantle of supreme power.
- She will soon inherit her father’s mantle.
[countable] (literary) a layer of something that covers a surface
- hills with a mantle of snow
- a grey mantle of mist shrouding the slopes
[countable] a loose piece of clothing without sleeves (= parts covering the arms), worn over other clothes, especially in the past synonym cloak, covering
[singular] (geology) the part of the earth below the crust and surrounding the core
(also gas mantle)
[countable] a cover around the flame of a gas lamp that becomes very bright when it is heated
(also mantel)
(both especially North American English)
(also mantelpiece, mantlepiece ())
[countable] a shelf above a fireplace

Word OriginOld English mentel, from Latin mantellum ‘cloak’; reinforced in Middle English by Old French mantel.

verb

/ˈmæntl/

(literary)

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they mantle	/ˈmæntl/ /ˈmæntl/
he / she / it mantles	/ˈmæntlz/ /ˈmæntlz/
past simple mantled	/ˈmæntld/ /ˈmæntld/
past participle mantled	/ˈmæntld/ /ˈmæntld/
-ing form mantling	/ˈmæntlɪŋ/ /ˈmæntlɪŋ/

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mantle something to cover the surface of something
- Heavy mists mantled the forested slopes behind the village.
Word OriginOld English mentel, from Latin mantellum ‘cloak’; reinforced in Middle English by Old French mantel.