omvat

Omvat is a Dutch verb meaning to encompass, include, or comprise. It is used to describe the scope or contents of something, such as a report, dataset, list, or study. In English, it can be rendered as “to encompass” or “to include,” and it often conveys a sense of total coverage rather than mere presence.

Etymology and history: The word is formed with the prefix om- (around, about) combined with a root related to grasping or containing. It is attested in Middle Dutch and appears in similar compounds in early Modern Dutch. The term has cognates in other West Germanic languages and is part of a family of verbs that describe containment or coverage, alongside more common synonyms such as bevatten (to contain) or omsluiten (to enclose).

Usage and nuances: Omvat is frequently found in formal, descriptive, or analytical writing where the intention is to indicate the full extent of what is included. It can specify the total number of components, chapters, items, or elements that a work or dataset covers. In everyday language, contain-focused verbs like bevat or heeft can be used, but omvat emphasizes overall scope and completeness.

Examples: Het rapport omvat vijf hoofdstukken. De dataset omvat ruim tienduizend obser-vaties. De tentoonstelling omvat schilderijen uit de 17e eeuw en enkele latere werken.

See also: bevat, omvatten, omsluiten, inclusief.