wrap

 
Pronunciation: /rap/

verb (wraps, wrapping, wrapped or archaic wrapt)

[with object]
  • 1cover or enclose in paper or soft material: he wrapped up the Christmas presents Leonora wrapped herself in a large white bath towel
  • (wrap something round/around) arrange paper or soft material round: wrap the bandage around the injured limb
  • place an arm, finger, or leg round: he wrapped an arm around her waist
  • clasp; embrace: she wrapped him in her arms
  • informal crash a vehicle into (a stationary object): Richard wrapped his car around a telegraph pole
  • 2 Computing cause (a word or unit of text) to be carried over to a new line automatically as the margin is reached, or to fit around embedded features such as pictures: the program can automatically wrap text around irregularly shaped graphics words are wrapped to the next line if they are too long
  • [no object] (of a word or unit of text) be carried over automatically as the margin is reached: when you type, the text wraps to the next line the text in the document wraps around the image
  • 3 [no object] informal finish filming or recording: we wrapped on schedule three days later

noun

  • 1a loose outer garment or piece of material: beach wraps
  • [as modifier] (of a garment) having one part overlapping another; wrap-around: a wrap skirt
  • [mass noun] paper or soft material used for wrapping: plastic food wrap
  • (usually wraps) a veil of secrecy maintained about something, especially a new project: details of the police operation are being kept under wraps
  • British informal a small packet of a powdered illegal drug: a £5 wrap of speed
  • 2 [usually in singular] informal the end of a session of filming or recording: right, it’s a wrap
  • 3a tortilla wrapped around a cold filling, eaten as a sandwich.

Phrasal Verbs

wrap up

  • 1 (also wrap someone up) put on (or dress someone in) warm clothes: wrap up warm Tim was well wrapped up against the weather
  • 2 (also wrap it up) [in imperative] British informal be quiet; stop talking or making a noise.

be wrapped up in

be so absorbed in (something) that one does not notice other people or things: he was too wrapped up in the historic importance of his campaign

wrap something up

complete or conclude a discussion or agreement: they hope to wrap up negotiations within sixty days
win a game or competition: Australia wrapped up the series 4-0

Origin:

Middle English: of unknown origin

Spelling help

Remember that wrap is spelled with a w at the beginning, although it is not heard when you say the word. Other words that begin with wr- include wrath, wreak, wreck, wrench, wrestle, wriggle, wrist, write, and wrong.