frill

1 of 2

verb

frilled; frilling; frills

transitive verb

: to provide or decorate with a frill

frill

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a gathered, pleated, or bias-cut fabric edging used on clothing
b
: a strip of paper curled at one end and rolled to be slipped over the bone end (as of a chop) in serving
2
: a ruff of hair or feathers or a bony or cartilaginous projection about the neck of an animal
3
a
: affectation, air
usually used in plural
intellectual frills and fustianJoseph Epstein
b
: something decorative or useful and desirable but not essential : luxury
frilly adjective

Examples of frill in a Sentence

Noun The dress had frills around the hem and sleeves. He likes plain food without any frills.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The collection, which will surely be talked about as the best of the entire week, was an unflinching reminder that a serious depth of femininity — the frilled, bedazzled, artistic kind — should never be mistaken for weakness. Gabrielle Korn, refinery29.com, 13 Feb. 2020 Bound in a pale pink casing, the catalog comprises two mint green volumes that walk the reader through the history and modern applications of camp in all its feathered and frilled glory. Steff Yotka, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2019 Town & Country reported the ivory taffeta dress was embroidered with sequins, frilled lace and 10,000 pearls. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 30 July 2018 Summer has officially arrived in that terracotta Temperley London dress, with plunging neckline, ruffled skirt and frilled short sleeves. Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, 3 July 2018 At separate ends of town, two buxom madams and their bevies of painted, frilled and scandalously clad ladies welcomed miners and threw lavish parties. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 16 June 2018 For the women of Ocean’s 8, the objective was to steal the world’s attention: Rihanna thrilling and frilling in Givenchy, Sarah Paulson bold in acidic chartreuse from Prada, Awkwafina a caped goddess in Reem Acra. Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 11 June 2018 Xavier's head coaching job has never been more attractive and brings with it frills like updates facilities, a great on-campus gym, one of college basketball's power conferences and an enviable TV deal. Patrick Brennan, Cincinnati.com, 27 Mar. 2018 There’s a masculinity that’s barely detectable but nonetheless present — in the stiff leather of a miniskirt, say, or the strictness of a black pantsuit worn with a pale pink camisole that frilled in the front. Cathy Horyn, The Cut, 29 Sep. 2017
Noun
The collection was replete with feminine, romantic touches like frills and bows, and the beauty followed suit. Lauren Murdoch-Smith, Vogue, 23 Feb. 2024 In London: Fans of Netflix’s The Crown and followers of Windsor goings-on will, via motorcoach, thrill to the descriptive frills of the Royal London Tour with Westminster Abbey and Afternoon Tea. Laura Manske, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 Tattoos disappeared under rose pink frills, corsets were tightened, crinolines were adjusted and propped, pearls shone on their necks and ears. Brandon Choe, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2023 On the other hand, Barbie’s Issa Rae nodded to gold for the night, wrapping her hair in yellow-toned frills to match her rich lipstick. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 16 Jan. 2024 There are no frills or flairs here—just a cozy, speedy meal that feels nourishing thanks to plenty of kale and veggies and a can of beans. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 5 Jan. 2024 The frills at the front of Maria Robbins’s black walking dress become like a flowering vine painted with the brio of a Manet still life. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2023 On one recent creation, frills of buttercream surrounded an acid green ombré surface inspired by a chemical spill. Martha Cheng Sharon Radisch, New York Times, 7 Nov. 2023 His stage production is simple, with few frills decorating the stage or distracting from the performance. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2024

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

Noun

perhaps from Dutch dialect (Brabant) frul ribbon bow, trifle

First Known Use

Verb

1574, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of frill was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near frill

Cite this Entry

“Frill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frill. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

frill

noun
ˈfril
1
2
: something added mostly for show
3
: a thick fringe of hair or feathers or projection of bone or cartilage about the neck of an animal

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