braid

1 of 2

verb

ˈbrād 

braided; braiding; braids

transitive verb

1

a

: to make from braids

braid a rug

b

: to form (three or more strands) into a braid

2

: to do up (the hair) by interweaving three or more strands

3

: mix, intermingle

braid fact with fiction

4

: to ornament especially with ribbon or braid

braider noun

braid

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a length of braided hair

b

: a cord or ribbon having usually three or more component strands forming a regular diagonal pattern down its length

especially : a narrow fabric of intertwined threads used especially for trimming

2

: high-ranking naval officers

Synonyms of braid

Verb

• plait
• weave
• plat

Noun

• lace
• plait
• stripe
• braiding
• lacing

Examples of braid in a Sentence

Verb

She braids her hair every morning.

they taught each other how to braid yarn into bracelets

Noun

a hat trimmed with braid

until she was 15, she had a braid that reached to her knees

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Braids and the Bonds of Sisterhood The act of braiding each other’s hair throughout history is what Gibson calls an intimate one. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026

At virtual hearings, Leya sat with her arms crossed, her dark, wavy hair neatly braided in cornrows and wearing an oversized coat over her red uniform. — Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2026

Noun

Gyasi’s favorite look is four small braids paired with a bun. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026

At the beginning of the tour, Bibbs experimented with color in her hair for the first time, opting for bright-red braids that stood out under the glow of the stage lights. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English breyden to move suddenly, snatch, plait, from Old English bregdan; akin to Old High German brettan to draw (a sword)

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing braid

• box braid
• French braid

Rhymes for braid

• aid
• aide
• bade
• blade
• clade
• dade
• fade
• flayed
• fraid
• frayed
• gade
• glade

Kids Definition

braid

1 of 2 verb

ˈbrād 

1

: to form strands into a braid

2

: to ornament especially with ribbon or braid

braider noun

braid

2 of 2 noun

: a length of cord, ribbon, or hair formed of three or more strands woven together