upholstery

[ uhp-hohl-stuh-ree, -stree, uh-pohl- ]

/ ʌpˈhoʊl stə ri, -stri, əˈpoʊl- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR upholstery ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural up·hol·ster·ies.

the materials used to cushion and cover furniture.

the business of an upholsterer.

RELATED WORDS

padding, stuffing, filling

Nearby words

Origin of upholstery

First recorded in 1640–50; upholster(er) + -y³

Related formsre·up·hol·ster·y, noun, plural re·up·hol·ster·ies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for upholstery

The newest coach seats drop the upholstery and, instead, are shells molded to the human spine.
Flying Coach Is the New Hell: How Airlines Engineer You Out of Room|Clive Irving|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
An upholstery technique used in the 1700s makes the silk glued onto molded timberwork atop the bed look like liquid gold.
Savoir Beds’ Royal State Bed: Just Perfect, If You Have $175,000|Daniel Gross|June 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The upholstery van seemed to run best at sixty miles an hour; anything faster and the front tires shook a bit.
John Grisham's Debut Short Story|John Grisham|October 26, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Mr. McBride ran his upholstery shop in the old icehouse on Lee Street, a few blocks off the square in downtown Clanton.
John Grisham's Debut Short Story|John Grisham|October 26, 2009|DAILY BEAST

With an angry spurt, a bullet embedded itself in the upholstery of the car just behind her head.
The Secret Adversary|Agatha Christie
A day may come when this much abused combination of woodwork and upholstery will be sought after.
Old Country Inns of England|Henry P. Maskell
Then, again, he made a gradual transition from delicate and discreetly coquettish works to the crude arts of upholstery.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 2 (of 4)|Richard Muther
The three could see an indentation magically appear in the upholstery of an easy-chair across from them.
The Common Man|Guy McCord (AKA Dallas McCord Reynolds)
Of course, you know there are many fine houses where the library is a part of the upholstery, so to speak.
The Poet at the Breakfast Table|Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

British Dictionary definitions for upholstery

upholstery

/ (ʌpˈhəʊlstərɪ) /

noun plural -steries

the padding, covering, etc, of a piece of furniture

the business, work, or craft of upholstering

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for upholstery

upholstery

"upholsterer's work," 1640s; see upholster + -ery.