overcoat
gb/ˈoʊvɚkˌoʊt/ us/ˈoʊvɚkˌoʊt/
B1
English
~ 8500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Long warm coat worn outside
A long, warm coat that you wear over your other clothes when you go outside in cold weather.
Usage pattern:
to wear [an overcoat]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "overcoat" for any type of coat or light jacket. In modern English, "overcoat" usually suggests a long, fairly heavy coat for cold weather, often a bit formal. For everyday light outerwear, "coat" or "jacket" is more common.
Synonyms
coat (More general; can be light or heavy and not always long, while an overcoat is usually long and for cold weather.)
|
topcoat (Very close in meaning; often used in fashion contexts for a smart, sometimes slightly lighter overcoat.)
Collocations
heavy overcoat
|winter overcoat
|wool overcoat
|long overcoat
|buttoned his overcoat
Themes
clothing
|daily life
|weather
|daily_life
Examples
- He grabbed his overcoat from the hook and hurried out into the snow.
- A dark wool overcoat can make even casual clothes look more formal.
- She lent me her overcoat because I had underestimated how cold it would be.
- The detective’s old overcoat was frayed at the cuffs but still very warm.
- In winter, a good overcoat is essential if you walk to work.
Learner examples
- I put on my overcoat and went outside.
- His overcoat is long and very heavy.
- She bought a new black overcoat for the winter.
- Please hang your overcoat on this chair.
- He forgot his overcoat and felt cold on the way home.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
2
Final protective coat of paint
The last layer of paint or clear liquid that you put on something to protect it or make it look finished.
Usage pattern:
an overcoat of [paint/varnish]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is related to the clothing overcoat. In technical and painting contexts, "overcoat" refers to a layer of paint or similar material, not to clothes.
Synonyms
topcoat (Common technical term for the outermost coat of paint or finish; essentially the same meaning in painting contexts.)
|
finish coat (Emphasizes that the layer is the last, visible finishing layer, not just protective.)
Antonyms
undercoat (A preparatory layer of paint applied before the final coats; functionally opposite in the paint-layer sequence.)
|
primer (The first base coat put on a surface to help later coats stick; opposite end of the coating process from an overcoat.)
Collocations
an overcoat of paint
|final overcoat
|apply an overcoat
|clear overcoat
|protective overcoat
Themes
construction
|art
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- After the color had dried, the painter rolled on a clear overcoat of varnish.
- The instructions say to apply a second overcoat for maximum durability.
- A final overcoat will protect the metal from rust.
- Once the overcoat of paint is dry, the door can be rehung.
- They used a matte overcoat to reduce the shine of the base color.
Learner examples
- Put one overcoat of clear paint on the table.
- The wall needs an overcoat after the first paint is dry.
- We used an overcoat to protect the wood from water.
- He added a second overcoat to make the color strong.
- This overcoat of paint makes the surface look smooth.
Grammar
Dictionary form
overcoat
IPA
GB/ˈoʊvɚkˌoʊt/
US/ˈoʊvɚkˌoʊt/
Syllables & stress
over - coat (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (over)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: overcoat
- Plural: overcoats
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.