ceiling

/ˈsiːlɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsiːlɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsē-liŋ/ (ame, mw)

ceiling — noun

1. the flat surface that you see above you when you are inside a room, forming the

1.名詞A2
釋義

the flat surface that you see above you when you are inside a room, forming the top part of the space

例句

Leila lay on her bed and stared at the white ceiling.

collocation: white / painted ceiling

The old house had a low wooden ceiling with dark beams across it.

collocation: low / wooden ceiling

反義詞
  • floor

    the flat lower surface of a room, opposite the ceiling

用法筆記

Often used with adjectives describing height (low, high) or material (wooden, plaster, concrete). A ceiling fan or ceiling light is attached to or hangs from the ceiling.

常見錯誤

❌The roof is painted white in the bedroom.' (when inside the room)
✅The ceiling is painted white in the bedroom.
💡the ceiling is the inner surface you see when inside; the roof is the outer covering on top of the building.

2. the highest number, amount, or level of something that is officially allowed or

2.名詞C2
釋義

the highest number, amount, or level of something that is officially allowed or possible, especially in financial or policy contexts

例句

The government set a ceiling on the amount of rent landlords can charge.

pattern: set a ceiling on [something]

Congress voted to raise the national debt ceiling to avoid a financial crisis.

collocation: debt ceiling

同義詞
  • cap

    more informal and very common in business contexts; a ceiling and a cap are interchangeable when referring to an upper limit on spending or pricing

  • limit

    broader in meaning; a limit can be an upper or lower boundary, while ceiling only refers to an upper boundary

  • upper bound

    more technical and formal, used in mathematics and academic writing

反義詞
  • floor

    the lowest acceptable level or amount, e.g., a price floor

文法句型

ceiling + on + noun

ceiling + of + number/amount

用法筆記

Common in government, business, and finance contexts. Frequently paired with set, place, impose, raise, or lift. The preposition on introduces what is limited. A ceiling is an upper bound; there is no common corresponding word for a lower bound in this sense.

常見錯誤

❌There is a ceiling for 50 people in the room.' (when talking about physical space)
✅There is a limit of 50 people in the room.
💡ceiling as an upper limit is used for amounts, prices, and numbers, not for physical capacity.
❌The manager raised the ceiling of salaries.
✅The manager raised the ceiling on salaries.
💡use on, not of, after ceiling in this sense.