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.
wrapped gift
  • He can’t wait to unwrap his presents.

(unwrap = to remove the covering of something)

gifts

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.
wrapper
  • If we don’t use all of this meat, we’ll have to wrap it up and put it back in the refrigerator.
meat

People wrap themselves when they get cold:

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

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.
bandage

Click here to go to the Word of the Day page.

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