Envelopment refers to a mathematical concept where a shape or curve is enclosed by another shape, often used in geometry to describe the outer boundary of a set of points. This concept is crucial in various fields, including optimization and data analysis, where it helps in understanding the limits and extents of data distributions. In practical applications, envelopment can be seen in areas like economics and statistics, where it aids in creating models that represent the best possible outcomes or efficiencies. The idea of envelopment is also foundational in convex analysis, which studies convex sets and functions.