embroider

verb em·broi·der \ im-ˈbrȯi-dər \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Examples: embroider in a Sentence

Definition of embroider

embroidered; embroidering play \im-ˈbrȯi-d(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

1 a : to ornament with needlework

b : to form with needlework

2 : to elaborate on : embellish

embroider a story

intransitive verb

1 : to make embroidery

2 : to provide embellishments : elaborate

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embroiderer

play \im-ˈbrȯi-dər-ər\ noun

See embroider defined for English-language learners

See embroider defined for kids

Examples of embroider in a Sentence

She embroidered tiny flowers on the baby's scarf.
a scarf embroidered with tiny flowers
He is known to embroider the truth about his service in the army.

Recent Examples of embroider from the Web

Their team also put together a copy of Markle’s veil, which came in at an extravagant 16 feet embroidered with flowers to represent the many different Commonwealth countries.

— raisa bruner, Time, "This Bridal Shop Already Recreated Replicas of Meghan Markle's Wedding Gowns," 22 May 2018
Ragland made her appearance riding in the carriage with her daughter to Windsor Castle wearing a mint green dress embroidered with white florals by Oscar de la Renta.

— lindsey murray, Good Housekeeping, "Why the Color Doria Ragland Picked for Her Royal Wedding Dress Is Important," 19 May 2018
Wearing a crisp white button-down shirt and a white blazer as a base, Boseman also sported ivory pants and a cape embroidered with gold crosses and other adornments.

— melissa minton, Allure, "Chadwick Boseman Attended the 2018 Met Gala in an All-White Outfit Worthy of a King," 7 May 2018
Nike provided the high-tech, see-through upper; Elliott embroidered on top of it, and added suede and leather above and below; and James himself provided the sole and Nike Air unit from his eighth signature shoe—along with unparalleled inspiration.

— sam schube, GQ, "John Elliott Designed a Brand-New Sneaker for LeBron James," 23 May 2018
Waight Keller's team at Givenchy embroidered the trim of the veil and blusher with flowers–and not just any buds and blooms.

— carrie goldberg, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle's Veil Honored Princess Diana in the Most Modern Way," 19 May 2018
It was embroidered with the flowers of all 53 Commonwealth nations along the edge, each one different, to represent the roles Ms. Markle and Prince Harry will assume as Youth Ambassadors to the wider British world.

— vanessa friedman, New York Times, "Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress Was Made for a Person, Not a Princess," 19 May 2018
Additionally there was plenty of symbolism included that was befitting of a traditional royal wedding outfit: the veil was embroidered with 53 flowers representing each country of the commonwealth.

— marcia moody, Town & Country, "How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Wedding Stuck to Royal Tradition," 19 May 2018
Fifty-three flowers that represent the nations of the British Commonwealth were embroidered on the bride’s veil.

— elizabeth wellington, Philly.com, "Royal wedding fashion: Meghan Markle sparkles in Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy | Elizabeth Wellington," 19 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'embroider.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of embroider

alteration of Middle English embroderen, from Anglo-French embrouder, from en- + brosder, brouder to embroider, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English brord point, byrst bristle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year