embroider

play

verb em·broi·der \im-ˈbrȯi-dər\

Definition of embroider

embroidered

;

embroidering

play \im-ˈbrȯi-d(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb
1a : to ornament with needleworkb : to form with needlework
2 : to elaborate on : embellish embroider a story
intransitive verb
1 : to make embroidery
2 : to provide embellishments : elaborate

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

Following her escape from Winterfell at the start of season six, Sansa found inspiration in her roots for her strongest ensemble to date — a dark gown with a direwolf, the sigil of House Stark, embroidered across the chest.

— megan mccluskey, Time, "See How Sansa Stark Has Changed Over Six Seasons of Game of Thrones", 27 June 2017
More than a million stars are embroidered at the facility each year.

— liz dennerlein, USA TODAY, "At U.S. flag factory, American pride shows in every stitch", 25 June 2017
Women’s: Embroidered washed-silk shirt ($710); cropped silk pants ($425) hung on pickled-wood shelves.

— katy schneider, The Cut, "L.A.’s Cult Cactus Store Opens on the LES, Fishy Soaps-on-Ropes, and a Graphic-Design Bookstore in Greenpoint", 25 June 2017
All night, his band embroidered his songs with upscale leads and displays of keen proficiency.

— timothy finn, kansascity, "Joe Jackson gives an Uptown Theater crowd potent doses of his past and present", 24 June 2017
Test runs of popular T-shirts bearing the names of area sports teams, along with sweatshirts, sweatpants, embroidered Polo shirts, button-up shirts, salesmen's samples and other items are packed into the boxes.

— rich heileman, cleveland.com, "Luna Marketing owners pack items to cheer vets in hospice: Around The Town", 23 June 2017
Voluminous sport coats that riffed on biker styles had subtly contradictory embroidery across the shoulders and, in a highly stylish touch, embroidered belts dangled from the waist.

— Washington Post, "Valentino headlines first day of Paris Fashion Week menswear", 21 June 2017
From the main stage: St. Motel: The Los Angeles sextet delivered a gust of bright, catchy and slightly quirky indie-pop embroidered at times by fills and leads from its two-piece horn section.

— timothy finn, kansascity, "On day two, Boulevardia headliners adjust to the weather’s fury", 18 June 2017
A royal blue souvenir jacket with an orange lion embroidered on the back is $85.

— brad wete, Billboard, "Why Katy Perry's 'Witness' Pop-Up Embodies What Being a Fan Is All About", 16 June 2017

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!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

EMBROIDER Defined for English Language Learners

embroider

play

verb

Definition of embroider for English Language Learners

: to sew a design on a piece of cloth
: to make (a story, the truth, etc.) more interesting by adding details that are not true or accurate

EMBROIDER Defined for Kids

embroider

play

verb em·broi·der \im-ˈbrȯi-dər\

Definition of embroider for Students

embroidered

;

embroidering

1 : to make with needlework She embroidered her initials.
2 : to decorate with needlework I'm embroidering a tablecloth.
3 : to make more interesting by exaggerating or adding details The story had been … embroidered in so many places, that nobody was quite sure what the truth was anymore. — J. K. Rowling, Goblet of Fire