weave

[ weev ]

verb (used with object)

, wove weaved; wo·ven or wove; weav·ing.

1. to interlace (threads, yarns, strips, fibrous material, etc.) so as to form a fabric or material.
2. to form by interlacing threads, yarns, strands, or strips of some material:

   to weave a basket; to weave cloth.

3. to form by combining various elements or details into a connected whole:

   to weave a tale; to weave a plan.

   Synonyms: compose, construct, fabricate, contrive

4. to introduce as an element or detail into a connected whole (usually followed by in or into ):

   She wove an old folk melody into her latest musical composition.

   Synonyms: intermingle, intermix, insert

5. to direct or move along in a winding or zigzag course; move from side to side, especially to avoid obstructions:

   to weave one's way through traffic.

verb (used without object)

, wove weaved; wo·ven or wove; weav·ing.

1. to form or construct something, as fabric, by interlacing threads, yarns, strips, etc.
2. to compose a connected whole by combining various elements or details.
3. to be or become formed or composed from the interlacing of materials or the combining of various elements:

   The yarn wove into a beautiful fabric.

4. to move or proceed in a winding course or from side to side:

   dancers weaving in time to the music.

noun

1. a pattern of or method for interlacing yarns.
2. hairweave ( defs 1, 2 ).

weave

/ wiːv /

verb

1. to form (a fabric) by interlacing (yarn, etc), esp on a loom
2. tr to make or construct by such a process

   to weave a shawl

3. tr to make or construct (an artefact, such as a basket) by interlacing (a pliable material, such as cane)
4. (of a spider) to make (a web)
5. tr to construct by combining separate elements into a whole
6. tr; often foll by in, into, through, etc to introduce

   to weave factual details into a fiction

7. to create (a way, etc) by moving from side to side

   to weave through a crowd

8. intr vet science (of a stabled horse) to swing the head, neck, and body backwards and forwards
9. get weaving informal.
   to hurry; start to do something

noun

1. the method or pattern of weaving or the structure of a woven fabric

Derived Forms

• ˈweaving, noun

Other Words From

• outweave verb (used with object) outwove outwoven or outwove outweaving
• re·weave verb rewove rewoven or rewove reweaving

Word History and Origins

Origin of weave¹

before 900; Middle English weven, Old English wefan; cognate with German weben, Old Norse vefa; web

Word History and Origins

Origin of weave¹

Old English wefan; related to Old High German weban, Old Norse vefa, Greek hyphos, Sanskrit vābhis; compare web , weevil , wasp

Example Sentences

Herbert wove a complicated universe with oddball technologies, bizarre competing factions and religions that are easier to digest over the methodical consumption of hundreds of pages.

From Salon

He proposed basing it on this quotidian word song cycle in conjunction with the existing instrumental pieces, and weaving the result into an interactive film piece.

From Los Angeles Times

The edge-of-your-seat series weaves together a cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, with Bianca searching for an assassin — the Jackal — who is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake as he continually evades authorities.

From Los Angeles Times

We float around the room like an invisible spider, circling and weaving this trio into a diabolical web.

From Los Angeles Times

You could spend days under your headphones unraveling the dense weave of riffs, licks, rhythms and languages in this song.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• braid
• careen
• compose
• construct
• create
• entwine
• fabricate
• fold
• fuse
• incorporate
• intertwine
• introduce
• knit
• loop
• mesh
• sew
• snake
• spin
• splice
• twist