braid

American  

[breyd] / breɪd /

verb (used with object)

braids, present (3rd person singular) braided, past participle, past braiding present participle

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

Derived Forms

• well-braided
  adjective
• braider
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have braided
  perfect
• has braided
  perfect 3rd person singular
• braids
  singular 3rd person
• are braiding
  progressive
• is braiding
  progressive 3rd person singular
• braiding
  participle
• have been braiding
  perfect progressive
• am braiding
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been braiding
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had braided
  perfect
• had been braiding
  perfect progressive
• braided
  simple
• braided
  participle
• were braiding
  progressive plural
• was braiding
  progressive singular

Future

• will braid
  simple
• will have braided
  perfect
• will be braiding
  progressive
• will have been braiding
  perfect progressive

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

Explanation

To braid is to lace or weave together. Hair that has been done this way is in braids. Have you ever seen someone with their hair bound together in thick, rope-like arrangements? That hairdo is called braids. Women often braid each other's hair or get it braided by a hairdresser. The longer your hair, the longer your potential braids. To braid hair, you have to weave the strands of hair together: this is also called plaiting, lacing, and interlacing. Other materials can be braided, but the most popular thing to braid is definitely hair.

Example Sentences

We’re told that White House staffer James Braid, who worked for Mr. Vance when he was an Ohio Senator, is pressing Republicans to attach a version of the Veep’s Railway Safety Act.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

Niamdh Braid, 16, from Glenrothes, launched an action against her local authority last year after missing out on essential learning.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2025

Braid dandelions or daisies into a floral crown, and the wearer becomes a forest sprite.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2023

To open the clinic, Braid and his staff had to obtain new medical licenses and move their families.

From Reuters • Jun. 21, 2023

“I was seventeen when I first met you,” Katie was saying, and I was working in the Castle Braid Factory.”

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Related Words

• pigtail
• ponytail