portiere
noun
a curtain hung in a doorway, either to replace the door or for decoration.
portiere
American
[pawr-tyair, -teer, pohr-, pawr-tee-air, pohr-]
/ pɔrˈtjɛər, -ˈtɪər, poʊr-, ˌpɔr tiˈɛər, ˌpoʊr- /
Or
portière
noun
portière
British
/ ˌpɔːtɪˈɛə, pɔrtjɛr /
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of portiere
1835–45; < French portière < Medieval Latin portāria, noun use of feminine of Late Latin portārius; see porter 2
Vocabulary lists containing portiere
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:
Meantime, the prince retrieved his priceless paintings and handmade clothes from the portiere, or janitor, who had helpfully hidden them when the inspector called.
From Time Magazine Archive
He thought he saw Cathy’s door close very silently, but perhaps the leaping candlelight had fooled his eyes, for a portiere seemed to move too.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
But as he pushed aside the portiere he beheld a pair of blue eyes which, he flattered himself, betrayed an expression of pleased expectancy—and his compunctions vanished.
From A Border Ruffian 1891 by Thomas A. (Thomas Allibone) Janvier
A velvet portiere, closed at this moment, communicated with an inside room.
From The Pocket Bible or Christian the Printer A Tale of the Sixteenth Century by Eug?ne Sue
If that is good the rug or portiere or table-cover is beautiful.
From How to make rugs by Candace Wheeler
She was looking out of the window as I approached the house; she herself opened the door to me; and we walked through the bead portière and entered the party-room on the left.
From The Debit Account by Oliver [pseud.] Onions
"This way," answered Ida, leading them past her own room, which came next, and pushing aside a heavy portière which covered a door at the opposite end of the hall from Magnolia Budine's room.
From The Little Colonel at Boarding-School by Annie F. (Annie Fellows) Johnston
The man lifted a portière, and Mrs. McLane, with an exclamation of delight, came forward, with both hands outstretched.
From A Daughter of the Vine by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton
Beyond the audience chamber there were two or three more reception rooms, and from the last of these a door masked by a heavy portière, gave on milor's study.
From Petticoat Rule by Emmuska Orczy, Baroness Orczy
In the first inner gallery, behind the satin portière, was a small billiard-table.
From The Hidden Force A Story of Modern Java by Louis Couperus
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.
