tapestry
noun
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Several languages weave through the history of tapestry, which comes from a Greek word meaning “carpet” and traveled through Anglo-French and Middle English before arriving in modern English in the 15th century. Tapestry originally referred to a heavy handwoven reversible textile used for hangings, curtains, and upholstery, and characterized by complicated pictorial designs. It still does today, but the word has fittingly developed a “tapestry” of additional senses. It may describe a nonreversible imitation of tapestry used chiefly for upholstery, or embroidery on canvas resembling woven tapestry. It can also refer figuratively to anything made up of different parts, as in “nature’s rich tapestry.” Tapestry isn’t the only art word that’s developed a figurative “medley” sense; collage (“a work of art made by adhering pieces of different materials (such as paper, cloth, or wood) to a flat surface”) and mosaic (“a decoration made by inlaying small pieces of variously colored material (such as glass or ceramic) to form pictures or patterns”) are both used figuratively to mean “a collection of different things.”
Examples of tapestry in a Sentence
Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026
That path to the Super Bowl is woven into the tapestry of great moments in Los Angeles sports.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
These factors, individually significant, collectively weave a complex tapestry of uncertainty and opportunity that touches every aspect of our lives.
—Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Nuriev collaborated with the organization for a project that incorporated artificial intelligence that breathed new life into 17th-century Royal House tapestries.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tapestry
Cite this Entry
“Tapestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tapestry. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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tapestry
noun
