What is ceiling? Pronunciation and usage in English

ceiling means . Learn how to pronounce and use ceiling through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of ceiling

ceilingnoun

/ˈsiːlɪŋ/
Definition & pronunciation of ceiling

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "ceiling." It can be tricky for some learners! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is:

  • /ˈsiːliːŋ/ (pronounced: SEE-lee-ing)

Let's break that down syllable by syllable:

  1. "See": Like the word "see" – a short, clear "s" sound.
  2. "Lee": Like the name "Lee." This is a short, slightly rounded "ee" sound.
  3. "ing": This is the same as in the word "sing" or "ring."

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("SEE").
  • Vowel Sound: The second syllable ("lee") has a short "ee" sound – not a long "i" like in "ice."
  • Don't over-emphasize: It’s a relatively quick pronunciation.

Here are some audio resources you can use to hear the correct pronunciation:

Do you want me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation?
  • Explain a slightly different (less common) pronunciation?

Usage and examples with the word ceiling in English

Let's break down how to use the word "ceiling" in English. It has several different meanings, so it's important to understand the context. Here's a breakdown, categorized for clarity:

1. Literal Ceiling (The Physical Structure)

  • Definition: This is the most common understanding – the overhead surface of a room.
  • Examples:
    • "The living room has a beautiful plaster ceiling."
    • "We painted the ceiling white to make the room brighter."
    • "The contractor installed a new acoustic ceiling in the studio."
    • "The ceiling fan is rotating slowly."

2. "To Have a Ceiling On" (Limits/Restrictions)

  • Definition: This is a figurative usage, meaning to have a limit or restriction on something. It’s often used to express feeling constrained or unable to do something.
  • Examples:
    • "He has a ceiling on his potential; he's afraid to take risks." (Meaning he's limiting himself.)
    • "The company has a low ceiling for salary increases." (Meaning there's a limit to how much people can earn.)
    • "Don’t put a ceiling on your dreams!" (Meaning don't limit what you believe you can achieve.)
    • "She’s setting a high ceiling for her students’ performance." (Meaning she expects them to excel.)

3. "Ceiling Price" (Maximum Price)

  • Definition: The highest price that is acceptable or allowed for something.
  • Examples:
    • "The government imposed a ceiling price on milk."
    • "The airline announced a ceiling price of $1000 for the flights."
    • “The deal came to a ceiling price of £5 million.”

4. "Ceiling Fan" (A type of fan)

  • Definition: A fan that rotates around a central point, typically mounted on the ceiling.
  • Examples:
    • “We need to clean the ceiling fan blades.”
    • “Turn on the ceiling fan; it’s getting warm in here.”

5. "Ceiling Effect" (In Economics/Performance)

  • Definition: A situation where productivity or performance plateaus at a certain level, despite increasing investment. It’s like the return diminishes after a point. (More advanced usage)
  • Example: “The company saw a ceiling effect with their marketing campaign – they spent more, but didn’t see a proportional increase in sales.”

Key Phrases & Idioms Using "Ceiling"

  • "Reach the ceiling": To achieve a particularly high level of success or accomplishment. ("He reached the ceiling of his profession.")
  • "Break the ceiling": To overcome limitations or barriers. ("She decided to break the ceiling and start her own business.")
  • "Under the ceiling": (Less common) - Can sometimes mean restricted or contained. ("He felt under the ceiling of his apartment.")

How to Choose the Right Meaning

  • Context is crucial. Look at the surrounding words and sentences to understand which meaning is intended.
  • Physical room vs. limitations: If you’re talking about a building, it's the physical structure. If you're talking about personal potential or limits, it's the figurative sense.

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What context are you trying to use the word "ceiling" in? (e.g., writing a story, having a conversation, understanding a news article)

Practice with vocabulary ceiling

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The artist painted a beautiful mural on the __________ of the chapel.
  2. We installed a new fan to improve the airflow in the room's __________.
  3. The __________ of the room was so low that taller guests had to duck.
  4. She hung the picture on the __________ to display it properly.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which part of a room is the overhead surface?
    a) Floor
    b) Wall
    c) Ceiling
  2. What should you check if a room feels too dark?
    a) Floor tiles
    b) Ceiling lights
    c) Windows
  3. Where would you look if you heard a noise above you?
    a) Ceiling
    b) Door
    c) Floor
  4. What is the opposite of the floor in a room?
    a) Roof
    b) Ceiling
    c) Wall
  5. Which part of a building is often insulated to retain heat?
    a) Roof
    b) Window
    c) Door

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The top surface of the room was decorated with intricate patterns.
  2. Original: The overhead lights in the conference room are too bright.
  3. Original: The roof of the building was damaged in the storm.

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. ceiling
  2. ceiling
  3. roof
  4. wall

Exercise 2:

  1. c) Ceiling
  2. b) Ceiling lights
  3. a) Ceiling
  4. b) Ceiling
  5. a) Roof

Exercise 3:

  1. The ceiling of the room was decorated with intricate patterns.
  2. The ceiling lights in the conference room are too bright.
  3. The top of the building was damaged in the storm.

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