The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Coating \Coat"ing\ (k[=o]"[i^]ng), n.
   1. A coat or covering; a layer of any substance, as a cover
      or protection; as, the coating of a retort or vial.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Cloth for coats; as, an assortment of coatings.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Coat \Coat\ (k[=o]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coated; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Coating.]
   1. To cover with a coat or outer garment.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To cover with a layer of any substance; as, to coat a jar
      with tin foil; to coat a ceiling.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

coating
    n 1: a thin layer covering something; "a second coat of paint"
         [syn: coating, coat]
    2: a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the
       substance that gives it that appearance); "the boat had a
       metallic finish"; "he applied a coat of a clear finish";
       "when the finish is too thin it is difficult to apply evenly"
       [syn: coating, finish, finishing]
    3: a heavy fabric suitable for coats
    4: the work of applying something; "the doctor prescribed a
       topical application of iodine"; "a complete bleach requires
       several applications"; "the surface was ready for a coating
       of paint"; [syn: application, coating, covering]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

136 Moby Thesaurus words for "coating":
   blanketing, blocking, blotting out, calcimining, cementwork,
   chromogen, cloaking, clouding, coat, coat of paint, collop, color,
   color filter, color gelatin, colorant, coloring, coverage,
   covering, curtaining, cut, dead-color, deal, disk, distemper,
   drier, dye, dyestuff, eclipse, eclipsing, enamel, enameling,
   enveloping, envelopment, enwrapment, enwrapping, exterior paint,
   facing, feuille, film, flap, flat coat, flat wash, floor enamel,
   foil, fold, fresco, fur, gilding, glazing, glossing, ground,
   hiding, incrustation, interior paint, japanning, lacquer, lamella,
   lamina, laminated glass, laminated wood, lap, laying on, leaf,
   mantling, masking, medium, membrane, obduction, obscuring,
   occultation, opaque color, overlaying, overspreading, paint,
   painting, pane, panel, pargeting, patina, peel, pellicle, pigment,
   plait, plank, plasterwork, plate, plating, ply, plywood,
   prime coat, primer, priming, rasher, revetment, safety glass,
   scale, screening, scum, sheathing, sheet, shellacking, shielding,
   shrouding, skin, slab, slat, slice, stain, staining, stippling,
   stuccowork, superimposition, superposition, table, tablet, tempera,
   thinner, tinction, tincture, transparent color, turpentine, turps,
   undercoat, undercoating, upholstering, upholstery, varnish,
   varnishing, vehicle, veiling, veneer, wafer, wash, wash coat,
   whitewashing, wrapping