brocade
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
- unbrocaded adjective
Etymology
Origin of brocade
1555–65; earlier brocado < Spanish < Italian broccato embossed (fabric), past participle of broccare, derivative of brocco twisted thread, shoot < Late Latin; see broach
Explanation
Brocade is a thick, weighty, fancy material with a raised pattern. You might see an opera singer wearing a dress made of brocade fabric, or you might see it used to create ornate silk cushions. Brocade comes from the Italian word brocco, meaning "twisted thread." Brocade fabric has a rich, ornate slightly old-fashioned feel to it. You might hear the word brocade used to describe the curtains in the homes of wealthy old women who may or may not have bodies or other horrible secrets in the unused upstairs rooms. Brocade can also be a verb that describes the action of weaving a design into fabric.
Vocabulary lists containing brocade
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
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"Love's Vocabulary," Vocabulary from the essay
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Pygmalion
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Like walking museum plaques, they glided through rooms in silk brocade gowns, panniers extending their hips to improbable widths, dispensing facts about furnishings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
The collection also featured brocade capes, puffer jackets and long wool coats with oversized fur cuffs.
From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026
Best known for his use of lotus and peacock motifs, Bal used rich fabrics like velvet and brocade - his designs were elaborate, inspired by Indian grandeur and royalty.
From BBC • Nov. 1, 2024
That brocade floral jacket with the giant, giant shoulder pads and the high collar and the brooch.
From Salon • Oct. 8, 2023
The master and his sons laughed as he wiped his face, but the twenty dollars went to new boots and a brocade coat like he’d seen some worthies wear in D.C.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
