braid

[ breyd ]

verb (used with object)

1. to weave together strips or strands of; plait:

   to braid the hair.

2. to form by such weaving:

   to braid a rope.

3. to bind or confine (the hair) with a band, ribbon, etc.
4. to trim with braid, as a garment.

noun

1. a braided length or plait, especially of hair.
2. a hairstyle formed by interweaving three or more strands of hair.
3. a narrow, ropelike band formed by plaiting or weaving together several strands of silk, cotton, or other material, used as trimming for garments, drapery, etc.
4. a band, ribbon, etc., for binding or confining the hair.

braid

¹

/ breɪd /

verb

1. to interweave several strands of (hair, thread, etc); plait
2. to make by such weaving

   to braid a rope

3. to dress or bind (the hair) with a ribbon, etc
4. to decorate with an ornamental trim or border

   to braid a skirt

noun

1. a length of hair, fabric, etc, that has been braided; plait
2. narrow ornamental tape of woven silk, wool, etc

braid

²

/ breɪd; bred /

adjective

1. broad

adverb

1. broadly; frankly

Derived Forms

• ˈbraider, noun

Other Words From

• braider noun
• well-braided adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of braid¹

First recorded before 950; Middle English braiden, breiden (verb), Old English bregdan “to move quickly, move to and fro, weave”; cognate with Old Norse bregtha, Dutch breien

Word History and Origins

Origin of braid¹

Old English bregdan to move suddenly, weave together; compare Old Norse bregtha , Old High German brettan to draw a sword

Origin of braid²

Scot variant of broad

Example Sentences

Now he is raising a 4-year-old daughter with the help of Barnica’s younger brother; every weekend, they take her to see her grandmother, who knows how to braid her hair in pigtails.

From Salon

Yet when my daughter recently asked me to give her a French braid, I once again cursed the stealth with which even the most frustrating parts of my life had been stolen.

From Los Angeles Times

Even if only with a hot breakfast, a quick photo and a French braid.

From Los Angeles Times

In it, she shows off her natural makeup look, saying, “See how I come to work? Very demure. I do my makeup, I lay my wig, I do a little braid, I flat iron my hair, I do chichis out, I do viral vanilla: very demure, very mindful.”

From Salon

The series attracted a legion of fans, drawn in large part to its defiant teenage heroine, Katniss Everdeen, portrayed in the movies by Jennifer Lawrence, with her long braid, bow and arrow, sense of loyalty and commitment to justice.

From New York Times

Related Words

• pigtail
• ponytail