I. man ‧ tle 1 /ˈmæntl/ BrE AmE noun
[ Date: 800-900 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: mantel , from Latin mantellum 'cloak' ]
1 . take on/assume/wear the mantle of something formal to accept or have an important duty or job:
It is up to Europe to take on the mantle of leadership in environmental issues.
2 . a mantle of snow/darkness etc literary something such as snow or darkness that covers a surface or area:
A mantle of snow lay on the trees.
3 . [countable] a loose piece of outer clothing without sleeves, worn especially in former times
4 . [countable] a cover that is put over the flame of a gas or oil lamp to make it shine more brightly
5 . [singular] technical the part of the Earth around the central ↑ core
II. mantle 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
literary to cover the surface of something