drape

[ dreyp ]

verb (used with object)

, draped, drap·ing.

1. to cover or hang with cloth or other fabric, especially in graceful folds; adorn with drapery.
2. to adjust (curtains, clothes, etc.) into graceful folds, attractive lines, etc.
3. to arrange, hang, or let fall carelessly:

   Don't drape your feet over the chair!

4. Medicine/Medical, Surgery. to place cloth so as to surround (a part to be examined, treated, or operated upon).
5. (in reinforced-concrete construction) to hang (reinforcement) in a certain form between two points before pouring the concrete.
6. to put a black cravat on (a flagstaff ) as a token of mourning.

verb (used without object)

, draped, drap·ing.

1. to hang, fall, or become arranged in folds, as drapery:

   This silk drapes well.

noun

1. a curtain or hanging of heavy fabric and usually considerable length, especially either of a pair for covering a window and drawn open and shut horizontally.
2. either of a pair of similar curtains extending or draped at the sides of a window, French doors, or the like as decoration.
3. manner or style of hanging:

   the drape of a skirt.

drape

/ dreɪp /

verb

1. tr to hang or cover with flexible material or fabric, usually in folds; adorn
2. to hang or arrange or be hung or arranged, esp in folds
3. tr to place casually and loosely; hang

   she draped her arm over the back of the chair

noun

1. often plural a cloth or hanging that covers something in folds; drapery
2. the way in which fabric hangs

Derived Forms

• ˈdrapable, adjective

Other Words From

• drapa·ble drapea·ble adjective
• drapa·bili·ty drapea·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of drape¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French draper, derivative of drap cloth ( drab ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of drape¹

C15: from Old French draper, from drap piece of cloth; see drab ¹

Example Sentences

The sunbeam’s extra tall, adjustable collar cradles the neck and drapes over the shoulders for quick relaxation.

From Popular-Science

The Sunbeam’s extra tall, adjustable collar cradles the neck and drapes over the shoulders for quick relaxation.

From Popular-Science

The fabric, a stretchy merino-blend terry, is substantial without being bulky, with weight and a nice drape.

From Outside Online

Mattie & Eddie’s is a love letter to Armstrong’s paternal grandparents, drape makers whose wee home was the place for family to gather for Sunday meals.

From Washington Post

The scent of burning incense crawled into my nose as I peeled back the heavy orange embroidered silk drape leading into the Khenpo’s room.

From Outside Online

Sneaker and clothing brands routinely dole out buckets of dough to drape their swag over popular cultural characters.

From The Daily Beast

A large part of a fashion model's job is physical, moving and shaping her body to highlight the drape of the clothing.

From The Daily Beast

Riveters log hundreds of hours making the banners that drape the stadium throughout the season.

From The Daily Beast

“Yoga has helped increase my range of motion and flexibility and has addressed my imbalances from the scoliosis,” says Dr. Drape.

From The Daily Beast

Dr. Drape recognizes that she will always have to manage her scoliosis.

From The Daily Beast

Seconds later the knotted drape she had used before swayed down into sight, I grasped it to steady it.

From Project Gutenberg

The great mountains rejoice in the sun, or drape their brows in clouds, irrespective of the eyes that regard them.

From Project Gutenberg

Both political parties, by a common impulse, "drape themselves in the Flag."

From Project Gutenberg

They are invisible garments that drape themselves about our spirit and give a predetermined form to all its symbolic expression.

From Project Gutenberg

Will somebody kindly drape that sun dial and hold back on time a little?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cloak
• clothe
• cover
• dangle
• don
• dress
• enclose
• envelop
• fold
• hang
• sprawl
• swathe
• wrap