ceiling
gb/sˈilɪŋ/ us/sˈilɪŋ/
A2
English
~ 2900
mennyezet, plafon, felső határ, limit, szolgálati csúcsmagasság, csúcsmagasság
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
the ceiling of [a room/building]
The ceiling in the living room is painted white.
A nappali mennyezete fehérre van festve.
A large chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
Egy nagy csillár lóg a mennyezetről.
Water stains appeared on the ceiling after the storm.
He looked up at the cracks in the old ceiling.
The ceiling fans keep the air moving in summer.
Learner examples
The ceiling is very high.
Nagyon magas a mennyezet.
I see a lamp on the ceiling.
Látok egy lámpát a mennyezeten.
We painted the ceiling blue.
There is a spider on the ceiling.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'ceiling' with 'roof'. The 'roof' is outside, while the 'ceiling' is inside.
Meaning
Overhead interior surface of a room
Collocations
high ceiling
|paint the ceiling
|ceiling light
|low ceiling
|touch the ceiling
Synonyms
overhead (Refers more generally to anything above head height, not necessarily an indoor surface.)
Antonyms
floor (The opposite surface at the bottom of a room.)
Themes
architecture
|daily life
|home
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The inside surface that forms the top part of a room.
The upper interior surface of a room, forming the top boundary above the floor.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a ceiling on [something]
The government set a ceiling on rent increases.
A kormány felső határt szabott a lakbéremeléseknek.
There is a ceiling on how much you can borrow.
Van egy felső határ arra, hogy mennyit vehetsz fel kölcsön.
The team has reached its salary ceiling for players.
Credit limits act as a ceiling on your spending.
Learner examples
There is a ceiling on prices.
Az áraknak van felső határa.
My credit card has a spending ceiling.
A hitelkártyámnak van költési limitje.
We have a ceiling for travel costs.
The law puts a ceiling on working hours.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse this meaning with the physical surface in a room. Context usually makes the difference clear.
Meaning
Maximum limit or upper bound
Collocations
price ceiling
|spending ceiling
|salary ceiling
|debt ceiling
Synonyms
cap (Informal term for a maximum limit, often used in finance or sports.)
Antonyms
minimum (The lowest allowable limit, opposite of a maximum.)
Themes
business
|economics
|rules
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The highest amount or level that is allowed.
A fixed upper limit on an amount, value, or level that cannot be exceeded.
NOUN
C1
3
The fighter jet has a service ceiling of 50,000 feet.
A vadászgép szolgálati csúcsmagassága 50 000 láb.
Weather conditions can lower an aircraft's effective ceiling.
Az időjárási körülmények csökkenthetik egy repülőgép tényleges csúcsmagasságát.
This model’s operational ceiling is higher than its predecessor’s.
Learner examples
This plane has a high service ceiling.
Ennek a repülőgépnek nagy a szolgálati csúcsmagassága.
Bad weather can make the ceiling lower.
A rossz idő miatt alacsonyabb lehet a gép tényleges csúcsmagassága.
The jet's ceiling is 15,000 meters.
Meaning
Maximum flying altitude of aircraft
Collocations
service ceiling
|operational ceiling
Synonyms
altitude limit (A general term for the maximum height something can reach; not specific to aircraft.)
Themes
aviation
|transport
|travel
|transportation
Definition
The highest height an airplane can fly and still stay level.
The highest altitude at which an aircraft can maintain level flight under standard conditions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ceiling
IPA
GB/sˈilɪŋ/
US/sˈilɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
ceil - ing (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ceil)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ceiling
- Plural: ceilings
Word family
Expressions
glass ceiling
1/ɡlˈæs sˈilɪŋ/
idiom
Invisible career advancement barrier
An invisible limit that stops some people from moving to higher jobs, often because of discrimination.
Examples
- She felt she had hit a glass ceiling in her company.
- Many organizations are working to break the glass ceiling for women in leadership.
hit the ceiling
1/hˈɪt ðə sˈilɪŋ/
idiom
informal
Become suddenly very angry
To get very angry very quickly.
Examples
- When he saw the mess, he hit the ceiling.
- She'll hit the ceiling if she finds out what happened.
through the ceiling
1/θɹˈu ðə sˈilɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Rise to very high level suddenly
To go up to a very high level quickly.
Examples
- Housing prices have gone through the ceiling this year.
- His stress levels went through the ceiling during exams.