braid

[ breyd ]

verb (used with object)

1. to weave together strips or strands of; plait:

   to braid the hair.

2. to form by such weaving:

   to braid a rope.

3. to bind or confine (the hair) with a band, ribbon, etc.
4. to trim with braid, as a garment.

noun

1. a braided length or plait, especially of hair.
2. a hairstyle formed by interweaving three or more strands of hair.
3. a narrow, ropelike band formed by plaiting or weaving together several strands of silk, cotton, or other material, used as trimming for garments, drapery, etc.
4. a band, ribbon, etc., for binding or confining the hair.

braid

¹

/ breɪd /

verb

1. to interweave several strands of (hair, thread, etc); plait
2. to make by such weaving

   to braid a rope

3. to dress or bind (the hair) with a ribbon, etc
4. to decorate with an ornamental trim or border

   to braid a skirt

noun

1. a length of hair, fabric, etc, that has been braided; plait
2. narrow ornamental tape of woven silk, wool, etc

braid

²

/ breɪd; bred /

adjective

1. broad

adverb

1. broadly; frankly

Derived Forms

• ˈbraider, noun

Other Words From

• braider noun
• well-braided adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of braid¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English braiden, breiden (verb), Old English bregdan “to move quickly, move to and fro, weave”; cognate with Old Norse bregtha, Dutch breien

Word History and Origins

Origin of braid¹

Old English bregdan to move suddenly, weave together; compare Old Norse bregtha , Old High German brettan to draw a sword

Origin of braid²

Scot variant of broad

Example Sentences

It’s also the latest twist in an intellectual braid that started long ago with an ancient curiosity.

From Quanta Magazine

Her side-parted, carefully smoothed style tapered to an extension braid.

From Washington Post

Studies show that common hairstyles like braids, twists, and Afros can affect job prospects.

From Vox

Basically, they want either a ponytail or braid that's 10 to 12 inches long of clean, not chemically treated hair.

From Washington Post

It is based on yet another area of mathematics involving transforming a set of numbers by combining elements, often according to elaborate geometric patterns, such as braids.

From Fortune

Boys let me know they liked me, too, and I realized that I looked good, tall and slim, my long hair in a braid down my back.

From The Daily Beast

E.J. Montoya, 16, has the well-muscled shoulders of a football player and a glossy, black braid down his back.

From The Daily Beast

There were more snubs than you could shake your DNA-sharing braid at.

From The Daily Beast

(9 p.m.) WEDNESDAY Braid Paisley and Carrie Underwood host the 42nd annual CMA Awards on ABC.

From The Daily Beast

Her hair had fallen from its pins and hung in a braid, its length concealed by her position, and making the effect of a queue.

From Project Gutenberg

I want a spool of red silk, two pieces of crimson dress braid, and a spool of fifty cotton.

From Project Gutenberg

She wore overalls and high boots, and the night braid of her hair was twisted several times round her throat.

From Project Gutenberg

She hurried on her riding-clothes, dropped her braid under her jacket, and ran down the stairs.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes; for every wound we get we have the right to wear a narrow strip of gold braid on the tunic sleeve.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• pigtail
• ponytail