braid

1 of 3

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 3

noun (1)

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

braider

3 of 3

noun (2)

braid·​er

ˈbrā-dər

plural -s

: one that braids

specifically : a sewing machine attachment for stitching braid in place

Synonyms of braid

Verb

• plait
• weave
• plat

Noun (1)

• 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 (1)

a hat trimmed with braid

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Rinsing helps strip away the alkaline preservative film that often coats synthetic braiding hair. — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026

Whitaker said the camera is placed in the hallway, looking through one doorway as Clark braids one daughter’s hair, then dollies right to reveal him braiding the other daughter’s hair through the next doorway, all in one shot. — Dana Feldman, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Noun

At her basement workshop, hatmaker Lisa Sarigiannidou turns straw braids into boaters using century-old presses and molds in a matter of minutes. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

But the styles themselves can introduce their own triggers, from adhesives in wigs and weaves to tension at the hairline from tight braids or twists. — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 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 (1)

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