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
He did not know that, on his birthday, his wife and daughter stood behind the portiere of the parlor, nor that they made the long journey every year to see him.
From The German Classics, v. 20 Masterpieces of German Literature by Various
At that moment Virginia pushed aside the portiere and silently stepped into the room.
From An Oregon Girl A Tale of American Life in the New West by Alfred Ernest Rice
If that is good the rug or portiere or table-cover is beautiful.
From How to make rugs by Candace Wheeler
The two drawing-rooms communicated by folding doors, which were opened, and a portière drawn across the opening.
From There is no Death by Florence Marryatt
Two doors opened from it, one into the hall hung with a blue portière and double ones that I guessed led into the parlor.
From The Black Eagle Mystery by Geraldine Bonner
The door, veiled by a portière, was not closed, but sufficiently closed to prevent any view of the corridor, which, otherwise, it commanded throughout.
From The Late Tenant by Louis Tracy
She did not come beyond the portière, but every one in the room saw her distinctly.
From There is no Death by Florence Marryatt
As he entered he drew the heavy portière over the closed door and passed to the desk in the corner and sat down.
From A Pasteboard Crown A Story of the New York Stage by Clara Morris
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.
