tapestry

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noun tap·es·try \ ˈta-pə-strē \

Definition of tapestry

plural tapestries

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

b :a nonreversible imitation of tapestry used chiefly for upholstery

c :embroidery on canvas resembling woven tapestry

needlepoint tapestry

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

nature's rich tapestry

See tapestry defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of tapestry from the Web

And soy plays especially nice in thick, rich stews and other meaty braises, adding a final layer of depth and seasoning to an already many-layered tapestry of flavor.

— nikita richardson, Bon Appetit, "Make Soy Sauce Your Secret Weapon," 22 Aug. 2017
Tapestry Ct., 10158-Loren and Jessica Cannon to Silviu Daniel and Raluca Romaniuc, $660,000.

— Washington Post, "Fairfax County home sales," 18 Aug. 2017
Slavery is regarded as a minor error within the great tapestry of brutality, despite its long-lasting, systemic and ever-present effects.

— lara witt, Harper's BAZAAR, "White Liberals Still Don’t Understand White Supremacy," 16 Aug. 2017
A tapestry of 166,000 glistening panels bob and bask below an ochre sun, producing almost enough clean energy to power a large town, as fish break through the inky water all around.

— TIME.com, "The world’s largest floating solar farm," 18 July 2017
In addition to the radio station, which will go in a former concession space at the terminal, there will be decorative tapestries made from old fire hoses.

— william lee, chicagotribune.com, "Theaster Gates' art at CTA station will nod to African-American experience," 12 July 2017
There is not much that Ms. Bode won’t consider as raw material for her collection: bed linens and vinyl upholstery, quilts and tapestries.

— matthew schneier, New York Times, "For Fashion Week, an Archivist Comes Down From the Attic," 12 July 2017
In the drawing room, Diana and Prince Charles opted for pale yellow walls, a Flemish tapestry as the focal point and a vibrant rug with both green and orange details.

— lauren smith, House Beautiful, "How Princess Diana Decorated Her Private Quarters in Kensington Palace," 10 July 2017
Each of her books is a dense tapestry woven from encounters with those caught up in epoch-making events, from the second world war to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.

— anna diamond, The Atlantic, "Russia’s Cyberwar Lab and Haiti’s Portable Pharmacies: The Week in Global-Affairs Writing," 23 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of tapestry

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

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Other Textiles Terms

batt, bias, brocade, duck, flock, lawn, toile

TAPESTRY Defined for English Language Learners

tapestry

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noun

Definition of tapestry for English Language Learners

: a heavy cloth that has designs or pictures woven into it and that is used for wall hangings, curtains, etc.
: something made up of different things, people, colors, etc.

TAPESTRY Defined for Kids

tapestry

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noun tap·es·try \ ˈta-pə-strē \

Definition of tapestry for Students

plural tapestries

:a heavy cloth that has designs or pictures woven into it and is used especially as a wall hanging

—

tapestried

\-strēd\ adjective

a tapestried wall

Learn More about tapestry

Spanish Central: Translation of tapestry Nglish: Translation of tapestry for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tapestry for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tapestry

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tapestry

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TAPESTRY Defined for English Language Learners

tapestry

Definition of tapestry for English Language Learners

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tapestry

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tapestried

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