intarsia

noun

in·​tar·​sia in-ˈtär-sē-ə How to pronounce intarsia (audio)
1
: a mosaic usually of wood fitted into a support
also : the art or process of making such a mosaic
2
: a colored design knitted on both sides of a fabric

Examples of intarsia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The floor-length red-and-black floral dress, for instance, an intarsia of four different laces that took 1,500 hours to hand-stitch; or the 800 hours that were needed for an emerald-and-white silk plissé number, an incredible confection of flou and fan pleats anchored to an inner corset. Mark Holgate, Vogue, 13 Apr. 2021 Details include inside-out effect shoulder seams, and a silk intarsia inside-out effect label on the back. Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2021 There was ample evidence of Mr. Browne’s fixation on techniques like quilting, cabling and intarsia and with turning garments inside-out (notably, a pair of sleeves worn as a bustle). New York Times, 7 Oct. 2020 Her intarsia top and legging combo made a clean palette for her bold accessories to pop. Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 24 May 2018 Matte-finish tiles were printed with motifs referencing centuries-old intarsia and majolica patterns, and designers liked the idea of using them in contemporary spaces. Washington Post, 13 Nov. 2019 Especially atmospheric is the Piazza delle Tre Chiese, three churches, one of which, San Francesco, has altars of polychrome intarsia. Frances Mayes, National Geographic, 11 July 2019 The collection plays into Gomez’s own aesthetic and ranges from a delicate lace slip skirt to a lilac hoodie to a sky blue bunny-rabbit intarsia sweater. Steff Yotka, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2018 Peau de soie, mikado, faille and lurex intarsia with shades of celadon blue and fruité red. Sarah Spellings, The Cut, 5 July 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intarsia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, modification of Italian intarsio

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of intarsia was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near intarsia

Cite this Entry

“Intarsia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intarsia. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on intarsia

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!