tailor

¹

[tey-ler]

noun

1. a person whose occupation is the making, mending, or altering of clothes, especially suits, coats, and other outer garments.

verb (used with object)

1. to make by tailor's work.

2. to fashion or adapt to a particular taste, purpose, need, etc..

   to tailor one's actions to those of another.

3. to fit or furnish with clothing.

4. Chiefly U.S. Military.,  to make (a uniform) to order; cut (a ready-made uniform) so as to cause to fit more snugly; taper.

verb (used without object)

1. to do the work of a tailor.

tailor

²

[tey-ler]

noun

British Dialect.

1. a stroke of a bell indicating someone's death; knell.

tailor

/ ˈteɪlə /

noun

1. a person who makes, repairs, or alters outer garments, esp menswear

2. a voracious and active marine food fish, Pomatomus saltator, of Australia with scissor-like teeth

verb

1. to cut or style (material, clothes, etc) to satisfy certain requirements

2. (tr) to adapt so as to make suitable for something specific

   he tailored his speech to suit a younger audience

3. (intr) to follow the occupation of a tailor

Word History and Origins

Origin of tailor¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (noun), from Anglo-French tailour, Old French tailleor, from taill(ier) “to cut” (from Late Latin tāliāre, derivative of Latin tālea “rod, cutting,” literally, “heel-piece”; tally ) + -or -or ²

Origin of tailor²

Alteration by folk etymology of teller

Word History and Origins

Origin of tailor¹

C13: from Anglo-Norman taillour, from Old French taillier to cut, from Latin tālea a cutting; related to Greek talis girl of marriageable age

Example Sentences

You tailor your product to meet them where they are.

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Carvalho also cited better data and an ability to use it faster to tailor instruction.

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Oracle is, at its heart, a software play, and offers a full suite of applications tailored to manage large amounts of information.

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One of the reasons the host tends to win the Ryder Cup is that it can tailor the grounds to its players’ strengths.

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They’re tailored to customers who are increasingly attuned to the benefits of hot and cold, while also searching for places to socialize—and willing to pay luxury prices for the experience.

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Related Words

• accommodate 
• adapt 
• alter 
• conform 
• fit 
• modify