drapery
Americannoun
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coverings, hangings, clothing, etc., of fabric, especially as arranged in loose, graceful folds.
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Often draperies. long curtains, usually of heavy fabric and often designed to open and close across a window.
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the draping or arranging of hangings, clothing, etc., in graceful folds.
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Art. hangings, clothing, etc., as represented in sculpture or painting.
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cloths or textile fabrics collectively.
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British.
noun
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fabric or clothing arranged and draped
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(often plural) curtains or hangings that drape
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the occupation or shop of a draper
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fabrics and cloth collectively
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of drapery
1250–1300; Middle English draperie < Old French, equivalent to drap cloth + -erie -ery
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.
See Examples For:
But as the Oxford Companion says of Gainsborough, “Unlike most of his contemporaries he employed no drapery painter.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026
The gleaming surface of the projecting figure and a background of sleeping soldiers, angels, drapery and clouds embody the inexplicable moment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2025
The large, angled handkerchief is a subtle formal echo of the drapery opening diagonally above Mariana’s head.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2024
Opie’s backdrop is a damask drapery in dark green, red’s vivifying complementary color.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 31, 2024
I drew back the drapery and inspected the spot where I'd concealed myself the day before.
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
Heavy draperies hang at the windows instead of venetian blinds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
There, gleaming gypsum flowers bloom from stone draperies laced with translucent cave pearls.
From Salon ● Oct. 7, 2023
When it comes to caring for custom throw pillows, bedding and draperies, we highly recommend opting for professional dry cleaning.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 3, 2023
To recreate the czar’s private rooms, Ms. Ryadova’s team had to remake almost everything: pickled oak parquet floors, wool rugs and silk draperies, and even spittoons that were used by the imperial family and courtiers.
From New York Times ● Oct. 27, 2021
We entered a large room in which one entire wall was hung with Italian-red draperies that fell in rich folds from the ceiling.
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
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.
