frill

[ fril ]
See synonyms for: frillfrilledfrillingfrills on Thesaurus.com

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.

  1. affectation of manner, style, etc.

  2. something superfluous.

  3. 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.

Origin of frill

1
First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Other words from frill

  • friller, noun
  • un·frill, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use frill in a sentence

  • "Then you girls will be thinking more of frills and furbelows than you will of prizes," laughed Harold Day.

    The Sunbridge Girls at Six Star Ranch | Eleanor H. (Eleanor Hodgman) Porter
  • She had on her light-blue dimity with the Hamburg frills, and her sorrowful face indicated that she had donned it to no avail.

    Country Neighbors | Alice Brown
  • With the bridle off, the big man went ahead abruptly, cutting out all the frills.

    The Wreckers | Francis Lynde
  • The old gobbler has become expert at ascending the roof of the stable and not only does the trick with ease but puts frills on it.

  • They wore a sword, carried a chapeau under the arm, wore laces and frills, and coats with cuffs heavy with gold lace.

    The Old Furniture Book | N. Hudson Moore

British Dictionary definitions for frill

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

  1. (often capital) a variety of domestic fancy pigeon having a ruff of curled feathers on the chest and crop: Full name: oriental frill

  2. photog a wrinkling or loosening of the emulsion at the edges of a negative or print

  3. (often plural) informal 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

  1. (intr) photog (of an emulsion) to develop a frill

Origin of frill

1
C14: perhaps of Flemish origin

Derived forms of frill

  • frilliness, noun
  • frilly, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012