braid

American  

[breyd] / breɪd /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a length of hair, fabric, etc, that has been braided; plait

2. narrow ornamental tape of woven silk, wool, etc

braid ² British  

/ breɪd, bred /

adjective

1. broad

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adverb

1. broadly; frankly

Other Word Forms

• braider noun
• well-braided adjective

Etymology

Origin of braid

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

Example Sentences

Dance and food used to feel incompatible in my life; now they feel braided together, a quiet symphony of movement and nourishment.

From Salon

The inhabitants have braids that function like USB cables that can be plugged into the nearest plant.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jocelyn Bioh’s high-spirited ensemble comedy, vibrantly directed by Whitney White, took us inside the lives of the African immigrant women who work at a Harlem braiding salon.

From Los Angeles Times

In a typical scene, Miss Holland, played by Van der Velden with milkmaid braids and hairy armpits, chokes on the aerosol of a spray tan.

From The Wall Street Journal

She’s also become a pop-cultural style icon, revered for the way she wore Mexican folk dress and braided her hair.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• pigtail
• ponytail