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

Every scam, if this was a scam, is an everyday scam, it’s just tailored for various holidays and occasions.

Read more on MarketWatch

My father, Max, had begun as a tailor in Manhattan, working for his father after the family escaped Nazi Germany in 1939.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer welcomed the fighters to the ring at 05:30 local time - minutes before sunrise in Riyadh - with the schedule tailored for a Mexican and American television audience.

Read more on BBC

Plaintiffs in the case say Chief Executive Robert Greenberg, along with his son Michael, the company’s president, worked closely with 3G Capital to tailor an acquisition deal that worked for them amid tariff chaos.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Times spoke to several therapists, social workers, researchers and organizations serving Thai and Asian Americans to examine how treatment and recovery can be tailored toward their needs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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