frieze

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈfrēz 

or

frē-ˈzā 

1

: a heavy durable coarse wool and shoddy fabric with a rough surface

2

: a pile surface of uncut loops or of patterned cut and uncut loops

frieze

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈfrēz 

1

: the part of an entablature between the architrave (see architrave sense 1) and the cornice (see cornice entry 1 sense 1)

2

: a sculptured or richly ornamented band (as on a building or piece of furniture)

3

: a band, line, or series suggesting a frieze

a constant frieze of visitors wound its way around the … ruins

—Mollie Panter-Downes

friezelike adjective

Did you know?

Frieze and Clothing

Both of the frieze homographs derive from French, but each entered that language through a different channel. The woolen homograph is from the Middle Dutch word vriese, which also refers to coarse wool. The other homograph of frieze is from the Latin word frisium, meaning "embroidered cloth." That word evolved from phrygium and Phrygia, the name of an ancient country of Asia Minor whose people excelled in metalwork, wood carving, and (unsurprisingly) embroidery. That embroidery lineage influenced the use of frieze for the middle division of an entablature, which commonly has a decorated surface resembling embroidered cloth.

Examples of frieze in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

High-relief friezes and stone mosaics of human figures suggest Gran Pajatén’s central cultural role. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 June 2025

At his Yale School of Architecture, casts of antique friezes line the walls of the stark interior, togaed statuary poised under the great central skylight. —Ian Volner, Artforum, 28 May 2025

Monumental staircases, fountains, friezes and portraits quietly transformed the Oasi Zegna landscape into a living museum, according to the company. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 27 May 2025

The exterior is divided into three horizontal sections: one from stone, then brick, and finally a terra-cotta frieze. —Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English frise, from Anglo-French, from Middle Dutch vriese

Noun (2)

Middle French frise, perhaps from Medieval Latin phrygium, frisium embroidered cloth, from Latin phrygium, from neuter of Phrygius Phrygian, from Phrygia

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for frieze

• bees
• bes
• breeze
• cheese
• crees
• crise
• deas
• dees
• ease
• fees
• fleas
• flees

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Kids Definition

frieze

noun

ˈfrēz

: a sculptured or ornamental band (as around a building)