wrap

When covering or protecting something, you can use the word "wrap."

Americans often use this word when describing gifts covered with paper:

Look at this beautifully wrapped gift. It’s covered with wrapping paper.
He can’t wait to unwrap his presents. (unwrap = to remove the covering of something)

We also use the word "wrap" for food or other things that need to be covered:

This candy is wrapped in plastic. You have to take the wrapper off before you eat it.
If we don’t use all of this meat, we’ll have to wrap it up and put it back in the refrigerator.

People wrap themselves when they get cold:

She has wrapped herself in a blanket to keep warm.
The nurse wrapped this newborn baby in a blanket.
She wrapped a scarf around her neck because it’s cold outside.

People also wrap parts of their body when they are injured or want to protect themselves from injury:

He’s wrapping a bandage around his knee.

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This page was first published on October 10, 2012. It was updated on June 21, 2015.