embroidery

[em-broi-duh-ree, -dree]

See more synonyms for embroidery on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural em·broi·der·ies.

the art of working raised and ornamental designs in threads of silk, cotton, gold, silver, or other material, upon any woven fabric, leather, paper, etc., with a needle.
embroidered work or ornamentation.
elaboration or embellishment, as in telling a story.

Origin of embroidery

1350–1400; Middle English embrouderie needlework on cloth < Middle French embroud(er) + Middle English -erie -ery; oi from embroider

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for embroidery

Contemporary Examples

Vibrant color surfaced in textile and in beading and embroidery.
How World Wars Made Females More Androgynous
Liza Foreman
July 22, 2014
Mr. Soni created a range of white clothing and cushions with embroidery using safety pins, melted pearl beads, and fabric strips.
High Fashion Made in India
Liza Foreman
February 19, 2014
Have you sublimated your sexual urges by learning Latin and Embroidery?
Penis Beakers and Constipated Dolls: What Mothers REALLY Want To Know
Tom Sykes
October 11, 2013
A reference to former Attorney General John Mitchell, who had stepped down as CRP director, reveals another kind of embroidery.
What Director Alan Pakula’s Papers Reveal About Watergate
Max Holland
June 12, 2012
The final dresses, in fuchsia with embroidery, appliqué, layering and all manner of technical wizardry were a Cinderella dream.
Paris Fall Fashion Week Ends With Vuitton and Kanye
Robin Givhan
March 7, 2012

Historical Examples

Mrs. Raymount was sitting at the fireside with her embroidery.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
When that was finished, the three superb pieces of embroidery were put in their places.
The Dream
Emile Zola
When her embroidery gave her mind a moment's leisure, she was astonished not to see Felicien.
The Dream
Emile Zola
These were trimmed with embroidery, and came down to my brown kid boots.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
Clotilde shrugged her shoulders, without lifting her eyes from her embroidery.
Doctor Pascal
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for embroidery

embroidery

noun plural -deries

decorative needlework done usually on loosely woven cloth or canvas, often being a picture or pattern
elaboration or exaggeration, esp in writing or reporting; embellishment

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for embroidery

n.

late 14c., embrouderie "art of embroidering;" see embroider + -y (1).

embroidery

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}embroidery

Related Words

Examples from the Web for embroidery

Contemporary Examples

Vibrant color surfaced in textile and in beading and embroidery.

Mr. Soni created a range of white clothing and cushions with embroidery using safety pins, melted pearl beads, and fabric strips.

Have you sublimated your sexual urges by learning Latin and Embroidery?

A reference to former Attorney General John Mitchell, who had stepped down as CRP director, reveals another kind of embroidery.

The final dresses, in fuchsia with embroidery, appliqué, layering and all manner of technical wizardry were a Cinderella dream.

Historical Examples

Mrs. Raymount was sitting at the fireside with her embroidery.

When that was finished, the three superb pieces of embroidery were put in their places.

When her embroidery gave her mind a moment's leisure, she was astonished not to see Felicien.

These were trimmed with embroidery, and came down to my brown kid boots.

Clotilde shrugged her shoulders, without lifting her eyes from her embroidery.

embroidery

Word Origin and History for embroidery

n.

Origin of embroidery