mantle

Meanings

1. 1nounsingulartechnical

   The thick layer of hot, dense rock between the Earth's crust and its core.

   Grammar: Usually used with 'the': the mantle. It is a technical term in geology.

   Patterns

   • the Earth's mantle
   • the upper mantle
   • the lower mantle

   Scientists study the mantle to understand how volcanoes form.

   The mantle lies beneath the crust and above the core.

   Heat from the mantle drives the movement of tectonic plates.

2. 2nounsingularfigurative

   A role or responsibility that is passed from one person to another.

   Grammar: Often used with 'take on' or 'assume': take on the mantle of leadership.

   Patterns

   • take on the mantle of something
   • assume the mantle of something
   • pass the mantle to someone

   After the coach retired, she took on the mantle of team leader.

   He assumed the mantle of responsibility for the project.

   The old professor passed the mantle of teaching to his younger colleague.

3. 3nouncountableliteraryold-fashioned

   A loose, sleeveless cloak or covering, often worn over other clothes.

   Grammar: Countable; this sense is mostly literary or historical.

   Patterns

   • wear a mantle
   • a mantle of snow

   The king wore a heavy mantle lined with fur.

   A mantle of snow covered the mountains.

Word forms

Common combinations

the Earth's mantle

The Earth's mantle is about 2,900 kilometers thick.

take on the mantle

She took on the mantle of CEO after years of hard work.

a mantle of snow

A mantle of snow lay over the fields.

upper mantle

The upper mantle is partly molten.

Synonyms and how they differ

cloak

A cloak is a sleeveless outer garment; mantle is similar but is now mostly literary or historical.

role

Role means a function or part played; mantle emphasizes the passing of responsibility from one person to another, often with a sense of honor.

Word family

mantled adjective

Covered with something, as if by a mantle: snow-mantled peaks.

Commonly confused: mantle or mantel?

Practice

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