braid

1 of 2

verb

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

Example Sentences

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
Sheda Madit was at her cousins’ house in Amarillo watching a movie and having her hair braided when her phone lit up. Ted Genoways, The New Republic, 25 May 2023 The braiding process can take anywhere from six hours to two days, depending on the artisan’s level of expertise. Javier E. Piñero, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2023 Solid colors or stripes replaced the manifold colors and patterns, leather handles were used in place of sisal, and upcycled or recycled plastic supplanted the virgin plastic the women had traditionally braided together with sisal. Nicole Davis, Bon Appétit, 21 Feb. 2023 It is done early in the morning, and the stalks are set out to dry in the sun for days or weeks, then picked for braiding. Javier E. Piñero, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 May 2023 Quantinuum said Tuesday that its System Model H2 Quantum computer — the highest-performing quantum computer ever built, powered by Honeywell — had created non-Abelian topological quantum matter and braided its anyon for the first time. Julia Musto, Fox News, 10 May 2023 Bob Willett of Nokia Bell Labs has probably come the closest in his attempts to corral electrons in gallium arsenide, where promising but subtle signs of braiding exist. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 9 May 2023 This debut novel by Vara, a tech journalist, braids immigrant saga and sci-fi fable, alternating between the stories of a tech entrepreneur’s rise and his daughter’s rebellion. Sophia Nguyen, Washington Post, 8 May 2023 Conservators replaced the opulent red velvet, trimmings, and braid so that the chairs will look good as new, come coronation day. Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 2 May 2023
Noun
The bill is part of a national movement to ban racial discrimination against hairstyles and textures, such as dreadlocks, braids and twists. Philip Jankowski, Dallas News, 12 May 2023 Most researchers now believe that braids are the future of quantum computing, in one form or another. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 9 May 2023 Josiah’s little braids were poking out from underneath a black durag similar to the one worn by Frank, who introduced Josiah to the Coachella crowd as swiftly as he was dismissed in the short, but sweet moment. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2023 The squeeze bottle's funky-looking cap is designed to get in between braids and locs to dispense the product right onto your scalp. Sarah Maberry, Seventeen, 27 Mar. 2023 Save room on your Hanukkah table for a stunning braid of challah. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2022 In one photo, North can be seen holding up one of her alien-like sketches done on a piece of blue paper, complete with sunglasses and what appears to be a braid sticking out of the figure's mouth. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 5 Aug. 2022 Her hair was slicked back and secured into a long braid down her back, and her makeup was picture-perfect. Briannah Rivera, Seventeen, 30 Mar. 2023 The doll had a massive curly bun with a braid extending from ear to ear. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 17 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'braid.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of braid was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near braid

Cite this Entry

“Braid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/braid. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

braid

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on braid

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