[um.brel.la] n [It ombrella, modif. of L umbella, dim. of umbra] (1611) 1: a collapsible shade for protection against weather consisting of fabric stretched over hinged ribs radiating from a central pole; esp: a small one for carrying in the hand
2: the bell-shaped or saucer-shaped largely gelatinous structure that forms the chief part of the body of most jellyfishes
3: something which provides protection: as a: defensive air cover (as over a battlefront) b: a heavy barrage
4: something which covers or embraces a broad range of elements or factors "decided to expand ... by building new colleges under a federation ~ --Diane Ravitch"
[2]umbrella vt -laed ; -la.ing (ca. 1800): to protect, cover, or provide with an umbrella