Wrapping

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɹæp.ɪŋ/

Definitions

1. A material applied to cover or enclose an object, often for protection or presentation ; the process or action of covering or surrounding something to protect, conceal, or prepare it
2. Any substance used to wrap up items, typically for packaging or decorating ; the action of enveloping or encasing items for safety or appearance
3. A covering material like paper, foil, or fabric used to encase goods ; the act of enclosing or bundling items within a protective or decorative layer

Etymology: "Wrapping" is a plain formation: the verb "wrap" with the suffix "-ing" added to turn the action into a thing. It comes from Middle English "wrappinge" and "wrappynge," which carried the same sense of covering something over. The suffix did the same job it still does today, so the noun is the name of the act of wrapping and, by extension, the material used for it. The verb "wrap" itself is older and has a more obscure history than the suffix, but the noun simply inherits its sense of folding a covering around something.

Synonyms: packaging, covering, enclosure, shroud, case