drape

[ dreyp ]

verb (used with object)

, draped, drap·ing.

1. to cover or hang with cloth or other fabric, especially in graceful folds; adorn with drapery.
2. to adjust (curtains, clothes, etc.) into graceful folds, attractive lines, etc.
3. to arrange, hang, or let fall carelessly:

   Don't drape your feet over the chair!

4. Medicine/Medical, Surgery. to place cloth so as to surround (a part to be examined, treated, or operated upon).
5. (in reinforced-concrete construction) to hang (reinforcement) in a certain form between two points before pouring the concrete.
6. to put a black cravat on (a flagstaff ) as a token of mourning.

verb (used without object)

, draped, drap·ing.

1. to hang, fall, or become arranged in folds, as drapery:

   This silk drapes well.

noun

1. a curtain or hanging of heavy fabric and usually considerable length, especially either of a pair for covering a window and drawn open and shut horizontally.
2. either of a pair of similar curtains extending or draped at the sides of a window, French doors, or the like as decoration.
3. manner or style of hanging:

   the drape of a skirt.

drape

/ dreɪp /

verb

1. tr to hang or cover with flexible material or fabric, usually in folds; adorn
2. to hang or arrange or be hung or arranged, esp in folds
3. tr to place casually and loosely; hang

   she draped her arm over the back of the chair

noun

1. often plural a cloth or hanging that covers something in folds; drapery
2. the way in which fabric hangs

Derived Forms

• ˈdrapable, adjective

Other Words From

• drapa·ble drapea·ble adjective
• drapa·bili·ty drapea·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of drape¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Middle French draper, derivative of drap cloth ( drab ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of drape¹

C15: from Old French draper, from drap piece of cloth; see drab ¹

Example Sentences

Figure out how many anchor flowers you’ll need, and roughly how many filler stems — such as greens, draping clusters of amaranth or smaller flowers like baby’s breath — are required to make each arrangement.

From Los Angeles Times

With her signature shawl draped over her shoulders and silver hair pulled back from her face, Jane Goodall exudes serenity - even over our slightly blurry video call.

From BBC

Each of them stood with his hand over his heart — except for Strahan, who had his arms draped in front of him with one hand over the other.

From Los Angeles Times

But with a cat draped across my skull, my mind drifted to a previous trip I'd made to D.C. in January 2017, when I covered the Women's March to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump.

From Salon

At the end of the war, Mabel brought out the union flag she had hidden under the altar and draped it over the church’s balcony as British Troops entered the city.

From BBC

Related Words

• cloak
• clothe
• cover
• dangle
• don
• dress
• enclose
• envelop
• fold
• hang
• sprawl
• swathe
• wrap