Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To interweave three or more strands, strips, or lengths of in a diagonally overlapping pattern.
  • intransitive verb To create (something) by such interweaving.
  • intransitive verb To style (the hair) by such interweaving.
  • intransitive verb To mingle (discrete elements, for example) as if by such interweaving.
  • intransitive verb To decorate or edge (something) with a trim of interwoven strands.
  • intransitive verb To fasten or decorate (hair) with a band or ribbon.
  • intransitive verb To flow, twist, or wind as if interwoven.
  • noun A braided segment or length, as of hair, fabric, or fiber.
  • noun Ornamental cord or ribbon, used especially for decorating or edging fabrics.
  • noun A ribbon or band used to fasten the hair.
  • noun Slang Naval officers of high rank.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Deceitful; crafty.
  • Broad.
  • To take, draw, pull, or snatch quickly; reach; throw; cast; brandish.
  • To weave by passing three or more strands, strips, or lines of over and under each other alternately; plait; interlace: as, to braid the hair, straw, tape, etc.
  • To form by braiding; interweave the material of in strands or strips: as, to braid a straw hat or a rug.
  • In domestic econ., to beat and blend, as soft substances, particularly to press them with a spoon through a sieve.
  • To upbraid; reproach.
  • To move quickly; start; rush.
  • To start suddenly (out of sleep); awake.
  • To nauseate; desire to vomit.
  • To be like; resemble in appearance or character.
  • noun A quick motion; a start.
  • noun A moment.
  • noun A turn (of work); a job.
  • noun A trick; deception.
  • noun Any plaited band or fillet. Specifically—
  • noun A wicker guard for protecting trees newly grafted.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To weave, interlace, or entwine together, as three or more strands or threads; to form into a braid; to plait.
  • transitive verb To mingle, or to bring to a uniformly soft consistence, by beating, rubbing, or straining, as in some culinary operations.
  • transitive verb To reproach. [Obs.] See Upbraid.
  • noun obsolete A quick motion; a start.
  • noun obsolete A fancy; freak; caprice.
  • intransitive verb obsolete To start; to awake.
  • adjective obsolete Deceitful.
  • noun A plait, band, or narrow fabric formed by intertwining or weaving together different strands.
  • noun A narrow fabric, as of wool, silk, or linen, used for binding, trimming, or ornamenting dresses, etc.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective obsolete deceitful
  • verb obsolete (transitive) To make a sudden movement with, to jerk.
  • verb archaic (intransitive) To start into motion.
  • verb transitive To weave together, intertwine (strands of fibers, ribbons, etc.); to arrange (hair) in braids.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb make by braiding or interlacing
  • verb form or weave into a braid or braids
  • noun a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair
  • verb decorate with braids or ribbons
  • noun trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English braiden, from Old English bregdan, to weave.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old English breġdan, from Proto-Germanic *bregdan. Cognate with Dutch breien.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word braid.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.