tapestry

noun

tap·es·try ˈta-pə-strē

plural tapestries

: a heavy handwoven reversible textile used for hangings, curtains, and upholstery and characterized by complicated pictorial designs

: a nonreversible imitation of tapestry used chiefly for upholstery

: embroidery on canvas resembling woven tapestry

needlepoint tapestry

: something resembling tapestry (as in complexity or richness of design)

nature's rich tapestry

Examples of tapestry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Wayfinder Waikiki Read McKendree This new boutique lifestyle property is outfitted with supremely adorable surf-y decor that authentically nods to the diverse local tapestry of Honolulu. —

Hugh Garvey, Sunset Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023 Last week, Valorant Champions was added to that tapestry. —

Sarah Parvini, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2023 Crafting worlds and weaving words into tapestries of remarkable tales, Netto's journey as a storyteller stretches from the realm of self-publishing to the esteemed ranks of globally renowned authors. —

Nick Kasmik, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2023 The patchy blue dial of the Sport Collection GMT is inspired by the sea of clouds over Mt. Iwate at daybreak when the humid air forms dense clouds that overlap to create a kind of tapestry. —

Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2023 Her tapestry The Eighth Continent depicts the mining of ice deposits in craters on the moon. —

Smithsonianmag.com, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Aug. 2023 Ndegeocello also credits her upbringing in Washington for the expansive tapestry of her sound. —

Marcus J. Moore, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2023 Many of the artworks and textiles were gifts or trades, such as tapestries by Boufelfel’s sibling Kam’s label, Community Handweaving, and a patchwork bunny made by their friend Emily Adams Bode Aujla, the designer of the upcycled fashion brand Bode. —

Eviana Hartman Dean Kaufman Colin King, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2023 The history of murals can be traced back to the earliest cave paintings, and tapestries that told stories were later hung on walls in ancient Greece and Rome and throughout the Middle Ages, Miller says. —

Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2023 See More

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

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French tapicerie, from tapit, tapis carpet, hanging, from Greek tapētion, diminutive of tapēt-, tapēs carpet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of tapestry was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century