coat
KOHT
Coat (noun) means an outer garment worn over other clothes, typically with sleeves. Example: “She grabbed her coat before heading out into the rain.”
noun
1
An outer garment worn over other clothes, typically with sleeves.
"She grabbed her coat before heading out into the rain."
"It was cold, so he buttoned his heavy coat up to the chin."
"I left my coat on the train and had to collect it later."
2
A layer of a substance, such as paint, covering a surface.
"The wall needed a second coat of paint."
"A thin coat of varnish protected the table from spills."
"The car needed a fresh coat of wax before the show."
3
The fur or hair covering an animal.
"The dog's coat was thick and glossy."
"The rabbit's winter coat grew thick and soft."
"Brushing the cat daily keeps its coat free from tangles."
verb
1
To cover something with a layer of a substance.
"Coat the chicken in flour before frying it."
"She coated the cake tin with butter so nothing would stick."
"Dust had coated every shelf in the empty cottage."
How to use coat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA piece of outer clothing, a layer of a substance over a surface, or an animal's fur — also used as a verb meaning to cover something in a layer.
Common pairings
winter coat
a coat of paint
coat in breadcrumbs
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Word forms
- Plural
- coats
- Third person singular
- coats
- Past tense
- coated
Fill the gap
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She grabbed her _____ before heading out into the rain.
Etymology
From Old French cote, "outer garment", from Latin cotta, "tunic", ultimately from a Proto-Germanic word for woolen cloth.
Related words
Rhymes for coat
See all rhymes for coat →Frequently asked questions
What does “coat” mean?
The word “coat” means an outer garment worn over other clothes, typically with sleeves. In plain terms, a piece of outer clothing, a layer of a substance over a surface, or an animal's fur — also used as a verb meaning to cover something in a layer.
How do you pronounce “coat”?
“Coat” is pronounced KOHT (/ˈkoʊ̯t/ in IPA).
How do you use “coat” in a sentence?
Here is “coat” used in a sentence: “She grabbed her coat before heading out into the rain.”
What part of speech is “coat”?
Depending on how it is used, “coat” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “coat” come from?
The word “coat” comes from Latin. From Old French cote, "outer garment", from Latin cotta, "tunic", ultimately from a Proto-Germanic word for woolen cloth.
Is “coat” a common word?
“Coat” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “coat” have?
“Coat” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an outer garment worn over other clothes, typically with sleeves.
What is the difference between a coat and a jacket?
Both are outer garments with sleeves, but a coat is generally longer and heavier, typically reaching to the hips or below and worn over other clothes in cold weather. A jacket is usually shorter and lighter, ending around the waist or hips.
What are common collocations with coat?
For the garment, common pairings include "winter coat," "trench coat," "fur coat," and "coat pocket." For the layer sense, "coat of paint," "top coat," and "base coat" are frequent.
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