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

Other Word Forms

• braider noun
• well-braided 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

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

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Having red ribbons braided through one’s mane, prancing obediently through obstacle courses, and taking jumps at a trot—what was it all for?

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Rolling over, she half expected to get tickled across the face with the tip of one of Cecily’s long braids.

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So she let herself sleep, too, and dreamed only of happy things: chirping songbirds and Black Forest cake, and sweet-tempered ponies with long red ribbons braided through their silky manes.

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“It is a marvelous thing, knowing that one has done one’s bit for the less fortunate,” she proclaimed as Margaret pulled, pinned, yanked, and braided her yellow locks into submission.

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Related Words

• pigtail 
• ponytail