Quranic root
غطو
gh · ṭ · w
The root centers on a covering or concealment placed over something.
The basic notion of covering extends to darkness that envelops, figurative ignorance, and related uses for something rising, spreading, or becoming abundant over another.
- Maqāyīs · row 3436
- Lane · entry 29537
- Lane · entry 29543
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 2
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
غِطَاء
ghiṭāʾ
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 2 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
A cover or covering placed over something, concealing or screening it.
The general covering sense; in 18:101 it denotes a covering associated with being screened from remembrance or perception.
- Lane · entry 29543
Selected Quran examples
Quran 18:101word 5
“a cover”
A figurative veil of ignorance or unawareness over perception.
A metaphorical use explicitly associated with the removal of ignorance and the restoration of clear perception in 50:22.
- Lane · entry 29543
- Mufradāt · row 1056
Selected Quran examples
Quran 50:22word 9
“your cover”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 2 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 21 Classical meanings
غَطَا
To cover or conceal a thing.
Transitive Form I verb.
- Lane · entry 29537
غَطَا
To come or become upon, over, or on top of a thing.
A Form I usage describing something arriving over or upon another thing.
- Lane · entry 29537
غَطَا
Of night, to become dark and envelop everything in its darkness.
Used of night becoming dark or covering and clothing everything.
- Lane · entry 29537
أَغْطَى
To put a covering over someone's heart.
Occurs in the supplicatory expression ٱللّٰهُمَّ ٱغْطِ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ.
- Lane · entry 29537
غَطَا
To clothe or invest someone with the vigour of youth; of youth, to become full or mantle a person with vigour.
A figurative use applied to youthfulness, its vigour, or its sap.
- Lane · entry 29537
غَطَا
Of a tree, to have long branches spreading over the ground and covering what surrounds it.
Describes spreading growth that covers the adjacent ground or surroundings.
- Lane · entry 29537
غَطَا
Of water, to rise, become high or abundant, or rise over a thing.
Used of rising water and of the overflowing or elevated state of a sea or great river.
- Lane · entry 29537
غَطَا
Of a she-camel, to proceed in her course and stretch forth.
A usage describing the camel's forward movement and extension.
- Lane · entry 29537
غَطَى
To do something that causes another person harm, displeasure, grief, or vexation.
Reported in the expression فَعَلَ بِهِ مَا غَطَاهُ; the lexical reading is uncertain because the passage may involve a mistranscription or dialectal variant.
- Lane · entry 29537
أَغْطَى
Of a grapevine, to have its sap running and to increase or grow.
A specialized Form IV usage of a grapevine.
- Lane · entry 29539
تَغَطَّى
To be or become covered with something, or to cover oneself with it.
Typically used with a garment or other covering; the corresponding Form VIII verb is given as synonymous.
- Lane · entry 29540
لَذُو غَطَوَانٍ
A person possessing might and power of resistance within his group, together with abundant defenders or means of defence.
A lexical expression describing strength and support within one's people or party.
- Lane · entry 29542
غِطَايَة
A layer of stuffing or lining placed beneath clothing as a covering.
A specialized garment-related noun; the source illustrates it as worn beneath clothes.
- Lane · entry 29544
غَاطٍ
Covering or concealing.
Active participle of the Form I covering verb.
- Lane · entry 29545
غَاطٍ
Of night, dark and enveloping, covering or clothing everything.
An adjectival use of the active participle with night.
- Lane · entry 29545
غَاطِيَة
A tree with long branches spreading over the ground and covering its surroundings.
A specialized adjectival use describing spreading vegetation.
- Lane · entry 29545
غَاطٍ
Abundant or copious water.
An adjectival use applied to water.
- Lane · entry 29545
غَاطِيَة
A grapevine that covers the ground by its high growth or numerous spreading branches.
A substantivized or adjectival use of the feminine form for a spreading grapevine.
- Lane · entry 29546
مَغْطِيّ
A thing that is covered or concealed.
Passive participle describing an object or thing under a covering.
- Lane · entry 29547
مَغْطِيّ
Obscure in reputation or public standing.
An idiomatic figurative use in هُوَ مَغْطِيٌّ القِنَاعِ.
- Lane · entry 29547
مُغَطَّاة
A pitfall covered over with earth.
A specialized feminine passive-participle noun for a concealed hazard.
- Lane · entry 29548
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The figurative interpretation of غِطَاء as ignorance is explicitly tied to the Quranic usage in 50:22; the other Quran occurrence is represented by the broader covering or screening sense.
The reported Form I idiom meaning to cause harm or displeasure is textually uncertain and may reflect a mistranscription or dialectal variant.