verb

mantle

MAN-tuhl

verb

To cover, cloak, or conceal something.

"Fog mantled the valley by early morning."

noun

The layer of the Earth between the crust and the core.

"Molten rock rises from the mantle to form volcanoes."

A position or responsibility passed on to someone, or a loose cloak.

"She took up the mantle of leadership after her father retired."

How to Use Mantle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA covering layer (like a cloak, or the layer of rock inside the Earth), or figuratively, a role or duty someone takes on.

Common mistake

Don't mix up with "mantel," the fireplace shelf.

Easily confused with

mantel →

Common pairings

take up the mantle the Earth's mantle mantle of snow

mantled past tense, mantles singular

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Fog _____ the valley by early morning.

From Old English mæntel ("sleeveless cloak"), from Latin mantellum ("covering, cloak").

dismantle