mantle

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/ˈmæn.təl/
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A cloak or covering, a planetary layer below the crust, or a role and responsibility passed from one person to another.

Examples

  • Autumn leaves made a golden mantle on the path.
  • He passed the mantle to a new generation.
  • A white mantle of snow covered the valley.
  • The young lawyer inherited the mantle of reform.
  • The team carried the mantle of defending champions.

Similar words

covering
cape
legacy
authority
geological layer
office
duty
interior
wrap
layer

Meanings

Cloak or covering

noun
everyday
formal
A loose cloak or something that covers, surrounds, or lies over a surface like a cloak.

Examples

  • A white mantle of snow covered the valley.
  • The queen wore a velvet mantle at the ceremony.
  • Mist lay like a mantle over the lake.
  • Autumn leaves made a golden mantle on the path.
  • The old statue was wrapped in a dark mantle.

Similar words

Layer inside a planet

noun
technical
technical
The thick layer of rock inside Earth or another planet, lying between the crust and the core.

Examples

  • The Earth's mantle lies beneath the crust.
  • Heat moves slowly through the mantle.
  • Some volcanic rocks come from the upper mantle.
  • Scientists study the mantle using seismic waves.
  • The Moon also has a mantle beneath its crust.

Similar words

Role or responsibility

noun
political
formal
A role, duty, authority, or tradition that someone accepts, inherits, or continues from another person.

Examples

  • She took up the mantle of leadership after the founder retired.
  • The young lawyer inherited the mantle of reform.
  • No one wanted to assume the mantle of responsibility.
  • The team carried the mantle of defending champions.
  • He passed the mantle to a new generation.

Similar words

Etymology

From Middle English mantel, from Old French mantel, from Latin mantellum, meaning cloak. The geological and figurative senses developed from the idea of a layer or covering.

FAQ

What does mantle mean?

Mantle can mean a cloak or covering, a layer inside a planet, or a role and responsibility someone takes on.

What is the Earth's mantle?

It is the thick layer of rock between Earth's crust and core.

What does take up the mantle mean?

It means to accept a role, responsibility, tradition, or leadership position, often from someone before you.

What is the difference between mantle and mantel?

Mantle is a cloak, layer, or responsibility. Mantel is the shelf or structure around a fireplace.

Can mantle mean clothing?

Yes. It can mean a loose cloak, especially in historical, ceremonial, or literary contexts.

Is mantle formal?

It often sounds formal, literary, or technical, depending on the sense.

What are synonyms of mantle?

Depending on the sense, synonyms include cloak, covering, layer, role, responsibility, and legacy.

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