frill

American  

[fril] / frɪl /

noun

1. a trimming, as a strip of cloth or lace, gathered at one edge and left loose at the other; ruffle.

2. something resembling such a trimming, as the fringe of hair on the chest of some dogs.

3. affectation of manner, style, etc.

4. something superfluous.

5. Photography. wrinkling or loosening of an emulsion at the edges, usually due to excessively high temperature during developing.

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verb (used with object)

1. to trim or ornament with a frill or frills.

2. to form into a frill.

verb (used without object)

1. Photography. (of an emulsion) to become wrinkled or loose.

frill British  

/ frɪl /

noun

1. a gathered, ruched, or pleated strip of cloth sewn on at one edge only, as on garments, as ornament, or to give extra body

2. a ruff of hair or feathers around the neck of a dog or bird or a fold of skin around the neck of a reptile or amphibian

3. Full name: oriental frill.  (often capital) a variety of domestic fancy pigeon having a ruff of curled feathers on the chest and crop

4. photog a wrinkling or loosening of the emulsion at the edges of a negative or print

5. informal (often plural) a superfluous or pretentious thing or manner; affectation

   he made a plain speech with no frills

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verb

1. (tr) to adorn or fit with a frill or frills

2. to form into a frill or frills

3. (intr) photog (of an emulsion) to develop a frill

Other Word Forms

• friller noun
• frilliness noun
• frilly adjective
• unfrill verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of frill

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

The Brigitte Bardot Foundation told French news agency AFP that the private burial will be "no frills" and "without fuss", in keeping with her spirit.

From BBC

Designers featured frills, fabric layers and ruching in a variety of colours and styles, meaning you could easily re-fashion your own items to reflect the mismatched clothes on display here.

From BBC

There are not so many show-biz people now, not as many frills.

From Los Angeles Times

Through this perspective, audiences remain engaged with the film’s events, told largely in chronological order, without any unnecessary frills or dramatization.

From Salon

It promised that the scorched frill at the bottom of a skillet was not failure, but the start of a sauce.

From Salon