sequin
Americannoun
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a small shining disk or spangle used for ornamentation, as on clothing, accessories, or theatrical costumes.
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a former gold coin of Venice, introduced in 1284; ducat.
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a former gold coin of Malta, introduced c1535.
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a former gold coin of Turkey, introduced in 1478.
noun
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a small piece of shiny often coloured metal foil or plastic, usually round, used to decorate garments, etc
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Also called: zecchino. any of various gold coins that were formerly minted in Italy, Turkey, and Malta
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of sequin
First recorded in 1575–85; from French sequin, from Italian zecchino, equivalent to zecc(a) “mint” (from Arabic sikkah “die, coin”) + -ino -ine 2
Explanation
A sequin is a flat little bead that catches the light and makes evening gowns shimmer. One little sequin is pretty, but they like to stick together. There’d be no figure skating without sequins. Sequins were originally made out of tiny metal discs, but today they're commonly made from shiny circles of plastic. The original sequins explain the name, which stems from their resemblance to coins; sequin was the 17th century name of an Italian gold coin. Today's sequins are used to decorate clothes, shoes, handbags, and anything else that needs extra sparkles.
Vocabulary lists containing sequin
Mardi Gras: Fun
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The Night Diary
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Nine Stories
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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.
A shot from Vegas’ Alec Martinez somehow sat on the goal line behind Oettinger, and Dallas’ Tyler Sequin hit the post on a play off the rush.
From Washington Times • May 20, 2023
If you’re looking to make a big statement with a designer ensemble, take a look at the Halston Del Sequin Jersey Jumpsuit from Neiman Marcus.
From Fox News • Dec. 28, 2021
Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, a longtime producer on The Bachelor, and Marti Noxon, a writer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created the series based on Shapiro’s movie Sequin Raze.
From The Guardian • Jun. 7, 2016
Bruins fans certainly believe they came away the big winners in the trade, gleefully gloating with a chant of "Thank you, Kessel" each time Sequin scores against Toronto.
From Reuters • May 7, 2013
Basil Sequin during these days had little time to bestow upon family matters.
From A Romance of Billy-Goat Hill by Rice, Alice Caldwell Hegan
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.
