Illustration of tassel
- tassel 1
1
: a dangling ornament made by laying parallel a bunch of cords or threads of even length and fastening them at one end
2
: something resembling a tassel
especially
: the terminal male inflorescence of some plants and especially corn
tasseled or tasselled; tasseling or tasselling
ˈta-s(ə-)liŋ 
: to adorn with tassels
: to put forth tassel inflorescences
Examples of tassel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 15 June 2025
Graduates may save the cap and its accompanying tassel as souvenirs, mementos of their accomplishment, but the gowns, 1,600 of them from my son’s college graduation alone, will go to the landfill.
—Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023
Corn was just starting to tassel across much of the Midwest, including fields in southern Indiana, a golden crown signaling the end of the season.
—Journal Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for tassel
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
One cute highlight is a very young Miley Cyrus giving the camera quite a serious gaze while riding a pink, toddler-sized trike with handlebar tassels.
—Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 15 June 2025
Graduates may save the cap and its accompanying tassel as souvenirs, mementos of their accomplishment, but the gowns, 1,600 of them from my son’s college graduation alone, will go to the landfill.
—Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
Verb
The Colombian singer wore flowers for earmuffs, and spread her arms to reveal rainbow day-glo tassels streaming from her elbows.
—Suzy Exposito, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023
Corn was just starting to tassel across much of the Midwest, including fields in southern Indiana, a golden crown signaling the end of the season.
—Journal Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2022
See All Example Sentences for tassel
Cite this Entry
“Tassel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tassel. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tassel
1 of 2 noun
tas·sel
ˈtas-əl
also especially of corn ˈtäs-,
ˈtȯs-
1
: a hanging ornament made of a bunch of cords fastened at one end
2
: something resembling a tassel
especially
: the male flower cluster on the top of some plants and especially corn
tassel
2 of 2 verb
tasseled or tasselled; tasseling or tasselling
-(ə-)liŋ
: to adorn with or put forth tassels
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share