BRAID

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does braid mean? 

• BRAID (noun)
  The noun BRAID has 2 senses:

1. a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

2. trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains

  Familiarity information: BRAID used as a noun is rare.

• BRAID (verb)
  The verb BRAID has 3 senses:

1. make by braiding or interlacing

2. decorate with braids or ribbons

3. form or weave into a braid or braids

  Familiarity information: BRAID used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BRAID (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

braid; plait; tress; twist

Hypernyms ("braid" is a kind of...):

coif; coiffure; hair style; hairdo; hairstyle (the arrangement of the hair (especially a woman's hair))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "braid"):

queue (a braid of hair at the back of the head)

pigtail (a plait of braided hair)

Derivation:

braid (form or weave into a braid or braids)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

braid; braiding; gold braid

Hypernyms ("braid" is a kind of...):

passementerie; trim; trimming (a decoration or adornment on a garment)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "braid"):

aglet; aiglet; aiguilette (ornamental tagged cord or braid on the shoulder of a uniform)

soutache (a narrow braid used as a decorative trimming)

Derivation:

braid (decorate with braids or ribbons)

braid (make by braiding or interlacing)

• BRAID (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they braid    ... he / she / it braids   
Past simple: braided   
Past participle: braided   
-ing form: braiding   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make by braiding or interlacing

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

braid; lace; plait

Context example:

lace a tablecloth

Hypernyms (to "braid" is one way to...):

tissue; weave (create a piece of cloth by interlacing strands of fabric, such as wool or cotton)

Domain category:

handicraft (a craft that requires skillful hands)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

braid (trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Decorate with braids or ribbons

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

braid a collar

Hypernyms (to "braid" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

braid (trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Form or weave into a braid or braids

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

braid; pleach

Context example:

braid hair

Hypernyms (to "braid" is one way to...):

interweave; weave (interlace by or as if by weaving)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They braid their hair

Antonym:

unbraid (undo the braids of)

Derivation:

braid (a hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair)

 Context examples 

Laurie leisurely departed to recover the lost property, and Jo bundled up her braids, hoping no one would pass by till she was tidy again.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Then Rapunzel let down the braids of her hair, and the enchantress climbed up to her.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Cassini's sharp views revealed the bright features to be a system of braided canyons with bright walls.

(Cassini to Make Last Close Flyby of Saturn Moon Dione, NASA)

Madam, he pursued, I have a Master to serve whose kingdom is not of this world: my mission is to mortify in these girls the lusts of the flesh; to teach them to clothe themselves with shame-facedness and sobriety, not with braided hair and costly apparel; and each of the young persons before us has a string of hair twisted in plaits which vanity itself might have woven; these, I repeat, must be cut off; think of the time wasted, of—Mr. Brocklehurst was here interrupted: three other visitors, ladies, now entered the room.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Her hair of a shining raven black, and curiously braided; her eyes were dark, but gentle, although animated; her features of a regular proportion, and her complexion wondrously fair, each cheek tinged with a lovely pink.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I remember I wore my yellow gown, with my hair done up in braids; and when I came into the drawing-room, and John introduced him, I thought I never saw anybody so handsome before.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Before the gates were three young girls, dressed in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braid; and as Dorothy approached, one of them said to her: Why have you come to the South Country?

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Miss Kate sketched and Frank talked to Beth, who was making little mats of braided rushes to serve as plates.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In her anger she clutched Rapunzel’s beautiful tresses, wrapped them twice round her left hand, seized a pair of scissors with the right, and snip, snap, they were cut off, and the lovely braids lay on the ground.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

I brushed Adele's hair and made her neat, and having ascertained that I was myself in my usual Quaker trim, where there was nothing to retouch—all being too close and plain, braided locks included, to admit of disarrangement—we descended, Adele wondering whether the petit coffre was at length come; for, owing to some mistake, its arrival had hitherto been delayed.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)