coating

noun

1. A thin outer layer.

   “They painted on a coating to protect it from the weather.”

   “"Chocolate and cream," the standard colours of G.W.R. rolling stock for 21 years, are now being replaced by an all-over utility coating of reddish-brown. This is the third time that a uniform brown has been adopted as the standard livery of G.W.R. carriages.”

   “You can, if you like, give the completed cork wall a protective coating of sealer, stain, varnish, wax or polish, so you will be able to use liquid cleaners on it.”

2. (archaic)Cloth for making coats.
3. (slang)A telling-off; a reprimand.

   “The bogey gave him a right coating.”

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of coat

   “We spent hours coating the truffles with cocoa powder so they wouldn't be sticky.”