Coat Meaning
Coat Definition & Usage
A garment worn to protect the body from the weather, typically having long sleeves and fastening down the front.
Examples
- "I need to buy a new coat for the winter."
- "She was wearing a long, woolen coat to keep warm in the freezing temperatures."
- "The coat was so heavy that it felt like a blanket wrapped around her."
- "I forgot my coat in the car and had to go back for it."
- "He bundled up in his coat and scarf before heading out into the storm."
To cover something with a layer of material or substance.
Examples
- "The cake was coated in a thick layer of chocolate."
- "The fish fillets were coated with breadcrumbs before frying."
- "The car was coated in a layer of frost after the storm."
- "She coated the walls with a fresh coat of paint."
- "The chef coated the vegetables in olive oil before roasting them."
Cultural Context
Coats have been a staple of human clothing for centuries, originally serving as a means of protection from the elements. Over time, they have evolved into fashion items, with different types of coats symbolizing various cultural and societal statuses. The word 'coat' is not only used for outerwear but also metaphorically, such as in phrases like 'coat of arms' or 'coat of paint,' which highlight the protective or decorative nature of a covering.
The Warmth of a Coat
Story
The Warmth of a Coat
It was an unusually chilly autumn morning, and as Mia stepped out of her apartment, she could feel the cold wind biting at her cheeks. She zipped up her new coat, a vibrant red puffer that her mother had bought her for her birthday. The thick, down-filled coat seemed to protect her from the wind, cocooning her in warmth as she walked toward the bus stop. The city was bustling, people walking briskly, all bundled in their coats, scarves, and hats. As she waited for the bus, she overheard a conversation between two friends. One of them was asking about a coat they had seen in a store window the previous day. 'It was a little expensive,' the friend said. 'But it had this thick coating of down inside. It would be perfect for this kind of weather.' Mia smiled. She remembered how, just last year, she had worn a lighter jacket that barely kept her warm. Now, the coat she wore felt like a shield against the cold. Later, while enjoying a cup of coffee, Mia overheard the barista talking about their plans to repaint the shop. 'We’ll need to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls,' he said. 'The old color’s starting to peel off, and we can’t have that.' Mia chuckled to herself, thinking about how versatile the word 'coat' could be. It wasn’t just the outerwear she had on, but also the layer of paint they were adding to freshen up the shop. By the end of the day, Mia had seen 'coat' used in ways she hadn't even thought about. Whether it was the coat she wore to keep warm, the coating on her coffee mug, or the fresh coat of paint on a wall, it was a word that had more layers than she had initially realized.