umbrella

um|brel|la [ʌmˈbrelə] n

[Date: 1600-1700; : Italian; Origin: ombrella, from Latin umbella, from umbra; UMBRAGE]

1.) an object that you use to protect yourself against rain or hot sun. It consists of a circular folding frame covered in cloth

→↑parasol

▪ It started to rain, so Tricia stopped to put up her umbrella .

▪ I spent the day on the beach, lying under a beach umbrella , reading.

2.) umbrella organization/group/agency etc

an organization that includes many smaller groups

3.) umbrella term/word/title etc

a word whose meaning includes many different types of a particular thing

▪ District nurses, health visitors, and school nurses will come under the umbrella term 'community nursing'.

4.) (come/work etc) under the umbrella of sth

to be part of a larger organization or involved in the work done by it

▪ The international education program came under the umbrella of the State Department.

5.) the protection given by a powerful country, army, a weapons system etc

▪ the American nuclear umbrella over western Europe