drape

1 of 2

verb

draped; draping

transitive verb

1
: to cover or adorn with or as if with folds of cloth
2
: to cause to hang or stretch out loosely or carelessly
3
: to arrange in flowing lines or folds

intransitive verb

: to become arranged in folds
this silk drapes beautifully
drapability noun
or less commonly drapeability
drapable adjective
or less commonly drapeable

drape

2 of 2

noun

1
: arrangement in or of folds
2
a
: a drapery especially for a window : curtain
b
: a sterile covering used in an operating room
usually used in plural
3
: the cut or hang of clothing
drapey adjective

Examples of drape in a Sentence

Verb We'll drape strings of lights between the trees for the party. the town hall was draped in bunting for the annual Fourth of July festivities Noun we hung drapes in the living room to match the new color scheme
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Dakota Johnson The Gucci brand ambassador wore a black oversized leather coat draped over her shoulders over a white lace maxi dress featuring sunburst-like floral detailing throughout, pairing the sheer dress with black slingback pumps and a patent leather Jackie 1961 handbag. Maggie Clancy, WWD, 20 Sep. 2024 Courtney Grow put her red-and-white plaid pick on display, draping it casually over a plain white tee and pairing it wide-leg burgundy trousers from Loulou Studio. Laura Jackson, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2024
Noun
This lightweight blanket drapes well over the bed and, after washing, takes on an heirloom quality of measured wear. Tiffany Vickers Davis, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2024 This heated massager drapes over the shoulders and has eight nodes that knead out tension and knots. Malia Griggs, Glamour, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for drape 

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

probably back-formation from drapery

First Known Use

Verb

1847, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drape was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near drape

Cite this Entry

“Drape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drape. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

drape

1 of 2 noun
1
plural : drapery sense 2
2
: arrangement in or of folds
3
: the cut or hang of clothing

drape

2 of 2 verb
draped; draping
1
: to cover or decorate with or as if with folds of cloth
2
: to arrange in flowing lines or folds
a beautifully draped satin dress

Medical Definition

drape

1 of 2 transitive verb
draped; draping
: to shroud or enclose with surgical drapes

drape

2 of 2 noun
: a sterile covering used in an operating room
usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on drape

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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