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Ceiling
A ceiling is an overhead interior surface that covers the upper limits of a room. It is not generally considered a structural element, but a finished surface concealing the underside of the roof structure or the floor of a story above. Ceilings can be decorated to taste, and there are many fine examples of frescoes and artwork on ceilings especially in religious buildings.
The most common type of ceiling is the dropped ceiling, which is suspended from structural elements above. Panels of drywall are fastened either directly to the ceiling joists or to a few layers of moisture-proof plywood which are then attached to the joists. Pipework or ducts can be run in the gap above the ceiling, and insulation and fireproofing material can be placed here.
A subset of the dropped ceiling is the suspended ceiling, wherein a network of aluminum struts, as opposed to drywall, are attached to the joists, forming a series of rectangular spaces. Individual pieces of cardboard are then placed inside the bottom of those spaces so that the outer side of the cardboard, interspersed with aluminum rails, is seen as the ceiling from below. This makes it relatively easy to repair the pipes and insulation behind the ceiling, since all that is necessary is to lift off the cardboard, rather than digging through the drywall and then replacing it.
Other types of ceiling include the cathedral ceiling, the concave or barrel-shaped ceiling, the stretched ceiling and the coffered ceiling. Coving often links the ceiling to the surrounding walls. Ceilings can play a part in reducing fire hazard, and a system is available for rating the fire resistance of dropped ceilings.
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Ceiling (noun)
The overhead closure of a room.
“the dining room had an ornate ceiling”
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Ceiling (noun)
The upper limit of an object or action.
“price ceilings”
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Ceiling (noun)
The highest altitude at which an aircraft can safely maintain flight.
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Ceiling (noun)
The measurement of visible distance from ground or sea level to an overcast cloud cover; under a clear sky, the ceiling measurement is identified as “unlimited.”
“Even though it was cloudy, there was still enough ceiling for the Blue Angels to perform a great show.”
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Ceiling (noun)
The smallest integer greater than or equal to a given number.
“the ceiling of 4.5 is 5, the ceiling of -4.5 is -4”
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Ceiling (noun)
The inner planking of a vessel.
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Ceiling (verb)
present participle of ceil
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Skeiling (noun)
A straight sloped part of a ceiling, such as on the underside of a pitched roof.
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Ceiling (noun)
the upper interior surface of a room or other similar compartment
“the books were stacked from floor to ceiling”
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Ceiling (noun)
an upper limit set on prices, wages, or expenditure
“the government imposed a wage ceiling of 3 per cent”
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Ceiling (noun)
the maximum altitude that a particular aircraft can reach
“the aircraft’s quoted ceiling of 24,000 feet”
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Ceiling (noun)
the altitude of the base of a cloud layer.
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Ceiling (noun)
the inside planking of a ship’s bottom and sides.