frill

[ fril ]

noun

1. a trimming, as a strip of cloth or lace, gathered at one edge and left loose at the other; ruffle.
2. something resembling such a trimming, as the fringe of hair on the chest of some dogs.
3. affectation of manner, style, etc.
4. something superfluous.
5. Photography. wrinkling or loosening of an emulsion at the edges, usually due to excessively high temperature during developing.

verb (used with object)

1. to trim or ornament with a frill or frills.
2. to form into a frill.

verb (used without object)

1. Photography. (of an emulsion) to become wrinkled or loose.

frill

/ frɪl /

noun

1. a gathered, ruched, or pleated strip of cloth sewn on at one edge only, as on garments, as ornament, or to give extra body
2. a ruff of hair or feathers around the neck of a dog or bird or a fold of skin around the neck of a reptile or amphibian
3. often capital a variety of domestic fancy pigeon having a ruff of curled feathers on the chest and crop Full nameoriental frill
4. photog a wrinkling or loosening of the emulsion at the edges of a negative or print
5. informal.
   often plural a superfluous or pretentious thing or manner; affectation

   he made a plain speech with no frills

verb

1. tr to adorn or fit with a frill or frills
2. to form into a frill or frills
3. intr photog (of an emulsion) to develop a frill

Derived Forms

• ˈfrilliness, noun
• ˈfrilly, adjective

Other Words From

• friller noun
• un·frill verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of frill¹

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of frill¹

C14: perhaps of Flemish origin

Example Sentences

There will be no such frills, few jokes and don’t expect a big rabbit out of the hat.

From BBC

Getting a room there might seem like a winning lottery ticket, but the frills come at no cost to taxpayers — the project received no government construction funds.

From Los Angeles Times

He says the dinosaurs may have belonged to just one or two species instead, with individual animals sporting unique frills.

From Science Magazine

Two different families — each sporting every imaginable combination of spikes, horns and frills — diversified across the landscape, using their headgear to signal mates and challenge rivals.

From New York Times

Friends still liken her to Mary Poppins, part twinkly magic, part no frills practicality.

From New York Times