tapestry

noun

tap·es·try | \ ˈta-pə-strē

plural tapestries

Definition of tapestry

1a : 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

Examples of tapestry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The tapestry appears to be have been based on Four Servants, after a design by the Flemish artist Jacob Jordaens, woven in Brussels by the workshop of Jan van Leefdael around 1650. — Colin B. Bailey, The New York Review of Books, "Masterpieces Unmediated," 27 Apr. 2021 His decorative portrayal of a southwest Chicago sidewalk memorial of Mylar balloons and ribbons also brings to mind the lighter touch of Goya’s early tapestry designs for elite Spanish patrons before the Napoleonic war. — Steven Litt, cleveland, "Herman Aguirre’s powerful paintings respond to Chicago shootings, Mexican drug cartel violence," 18 Apr. 2021 In one round, you could be presented with a highly urban area, with a plethora of buildings, billboards, and street signs that weave a readable tapestry. — Will Backus, Wired, "People Are Playing a Guessing Game in Google Maps," 16 Apr. 2021 The main residence, for instance, features an expansive great room with gorgeous walnut panelling, plus, hidden behind a tapestry, a large flat-screen TV. — Helena Madden, Robb Report, "Home Tour: For $58 Million, This Renovated 1938 LA Estate Brings Regal Elegance to SoCal Living," 29 Mar. 2021 This Stars season — a tapestry slowly being picked apart stitch by stitch, most recently in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Panthers — has been woven by the threads of hope. — Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, "While Stars remain confident after loss to Panthers, they’re running out of time to turn the season around," 28 Mar. 2021 The margins are thin, though, and the complexity of that American tapestry will be on display. — Eliott C. Mclaughlin, CNN, "Analysis: Mass shootings signal a dubious 'back to normal' in America," 23 Mar. 2021 When sleep was disrupted, dreams could not do their work, stitching the messy narratives of life into an emotionally coherent tapestry. — New York Times, "Rosalind Cartwright, Psychologist and ‘Queen of Dreams,’ Dies at 98," 15 Mar. 2021 Shot in the Paris studio of American model-cum-photographer Lee Miller, the picture shows Miller and a friend lounging in bed against the backdrop of a Jean Cocteau cubist tapestry. — Sarah Karnasiewicz, WSJ, "How to Turn a $200 Blanket Into a Statement Headboard," 3 Mar. 2021

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.