tassel
Americannoun
-
a pendent ornament consisting commonly of a bunch of threads, small cords, or other strands hanging from a roundish knob or head, used on clothing, in jewelry, on curtains, etc.
-
something resembling this, as the inflorescence of certain plants, especially that at the summit of a stalk of corn.
verb (used with object)
-
to furnish or adorn with tassels.
-
to form into a tassel or tassels.
-
to remove the tassel from (growing corn) in order to improve the crop.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a tuft of loose threads secured by a knot or ornamental knob, used to decorate soft furnishings, clothes, etc
-
anything resembling this tuft, esp the tuft of stamens at the tip of a maize inflorescence
verb
-
(tr) to adorn with a tassel or tassels
-
(intr) (of maize) to produce stamens in a tuft
-
(tr) to remove the tassels from
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tassel
1250–1300; Middle English (noun) < Old French tas ( s ) el fastening for cloak < Vulgar Latin *tassellus, blend of Latin tessella (diminutive of tessera die for gaming) and taxillus (diminutive of tālus die for gaming). See tessellate, talus 1
Explanation
A tassel is an ornament or decoration that's made of threads. Tassels are used to decorate curtains, pillows, and clothing. A graduation cap (or mortarboard) often has a cord with a tassel attached to the top with a cord—in the U.S. it's traditional for a student to move the tassel from one side to the other at the end of the graduation ceremony. You'll also see tassels along the edges of fancy drapery and other soft furnishings. Tassels in various parts of the ancient Arab world were considered good luck, said to protect children from evil spirits.
Vocabulary lists containing tassel
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.
The traditional velvet cap features embroidered initials, button and tassel and a hand-embroidered clementine in honour of his wife Clementine.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2024
A smaller tassel allows more light to reach the leaves.
From Science Magazine • Oct. 25, 2023
You can choose individual tassels to be inserted into corners, or opt for tassel trim for a different application around the entire pillow.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2023
Most still possess upward of 90 fingerlike tentacles, which stick out of the creature’s bell-shaped body like the strings at the end of a tassel rug.
From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2023
It made me think of the caps that Santa’s elves wear, the same shape and color, the same fuzzy white tassel at the tip.
From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
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.
