coat

coat — noun

1. an item of clothing that covers your upper body and arms, designed to be worn ou

1.nounA1
Definition

an item of clothing that covers your upper body and arms, designed to be worn outdoors over your usual clothes for warmth or protection from rain

Example

Leila put on her warm coat before going out into the snow.

put on + [possessive] coat — common A1 collocation

A long grey coat hung on the hook by the door.

Common collocations
  • wear a coat
  • put on a coat
  • take off a coat
  • heavy coat
  • warm coat
  • winter coat
Synonyms
  • overcoat

    specifically a long, heavy coat worn in very cold weather

  • jacket

    shorter, lighter garment, often hip-length; more casual or part of a suit

  • cloak

    a sleeveless outer garment that hangs from the shoulders, now less common

Grammar Patterns

a/the + [adjective] + coat

possessive + coat

Usage Note

Distinguish from jacket — a coat is typically longer than a jacket and is designed primarily for outdoor wear, whereas a jacket is usually hip-length and may be part of a suit.

Common Mistakes

I wore a coat jacket to the party.
I wore a coat to the party.
'coat' and 'jacket' are different garments; do not use them together as a single item.

2. appearing as the second part of a longer word that names a specific kind of oute

2.nounA2
Definition

appearing as the second part of a longer word that names a specific kind of outer garment, for example a raincoat or an overcoat

Example

A raincoat keeps you dry when you walk in the rain.

compound noun: raincoat

Hana wore a bright yellow raincoat on her camping trip.

Usage Note

Never used alone as a standalone word for a garment in this sense. Only appears as part of compound nouns such as raincoat, overcoat, and greatcoat.

Common Mistakes

I brought a coat in case it rains.' (when meaning a raincoat)
I brought a raincoat in case it rains.
Use the compound word 'raincoat' when the garment is specifically for rain.

3. the soft hair or fur that grows naturally on an animal's skin and helps keep it

3.nounA2
Definition

the soft hair or fur that grows naturally on an animal's skin and helps keep it warm

Example

The cat's white coat was soft and clean after its bath.

possessive: [animal]'s coat

Greta brushed her dog's coat every morning before school.

collocation: brush + [animal]'s coat

Common collocations
  • thick coat
  • shiny coat
  • winter coat
  • shed its coat
  • coat colour
Synonyms
  • fur

    specifically the thick, soft hair of certain mammals; often used for coats sold as material

  • hair

    a more general term; individual strands rather than the whole covering

  • wool

    specifically the soft curly hair of sheep and similar animals

Grammar Patterns

[animal]'s + coat

[adjective] + coat

Usage Note

Frequently used with a possessive noun or adjective naming the animal species, such as dog's coat, horse's coat, or feline coat.

Common Mistakes

My parrot has a beautiful green coat.
My parrot has beautiful green feathers.
'Coat' refers to fur, hair, or wool on mammals, not feathers on birds or scales on reptiles.

4. a thin covering of paint, varnish, or another substance that is applied to a sur

4.nounB1
Definition

a thin covering of paint, varnish, or another substance that is applied to a surface to protect or decorate it

Example

The wall needs another coat of white paint before it is done.

collocation: coat of [substance]

Diego applied a first coat of blue paint to the old chair.

Common collocations
  • first coat
  • second coat
  • top coat
  • coat of paint
  • coat of varnish
  • coat of wax
Synonyms
  • layer

    a more general term; less specific than coat when referring to paint or varnish

  • covering

    suggests something that fully covers, not always in thin layers

Grammar Patterns

a + coat + of + [substance]

number + coat + of + [substance]

Usage Note

Typically preceded by a numeral or the indefinite article plus the preposition of, as in a coat of varnish or two coats of primer.

Common Mistakes

I need another coat for the wall.
I need another coat of paint for the wall.
The substance you are applying must follow 'of', e.g. a coat of paint, a coat of wax.
Idioms

cut your coat according to your cloth

idiom

To spend only as much money as you have available.

Maya decided to cut her coat according to her cloth and bought a used car.

Instead of borrowing, Brian cut his coat according to his cloth and rented a smaller apartment.

coat — verb

Word family

  • coating
    nounB2
  • coated
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Coat is the general term for an outer garment with sleeves, worn for warmth or protection outdoors. A jacket is shorter — usually hip-length — and lighter; it can be casual or part of a suit. An overcoat is a long, heavy coat worn over other clothing in cold weather, often reaching below the knee. A cloak is a sleeveless garment that hangs from the shoulders, now seen mostly in historical or formal contexts. For example, you might wear a wool coat to the office on a cold day, a denim jacket for a casual outing, a heavy overcoat for a walk in a blizzard, and a velvet cloak for a costume party.

coat ↗jacket ↗overcoat ↗cloak

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • coat of arms

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Coat entered English from Old French 'cote', meaning a kind of outer garment. The French word came from Latin 'cotta', a tunic or woollen garment worn in ancient times. Over centuries, the meaning expanded from a simple tunic to any outer garment with sleeves, and later to layers covering surfaces and animal fur.