tracery

noun

trac·​ery ˈtrā-sə-rē 

ˈtrās-rē

plural traceries

1

: architectural ornamental work with branching lines

especially : decorative openwork in a Gothic window

2

: a decorative interlacing of lines suggestive of Gothic tracery

traceried

ˈtrā-sə-rēd 

ˈtrās-rēd

adjective

Illustration of tracery

• tracery 1

Examples of tracery in a Sentence

This window is an example of Gothic tracery.

the delicate tracery of a butterfly's wing

Recent Examples on the Web

Trotsky’s arguments about revolution in one nation versus a revolution of the international proletariat, like the fine argumentative tracery of Paul’s Jewish Christians versus Greek ones, seemed vital to the movement at the time but weirdly trivial and abstract to those outside it. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

But viewed in time-lapse there is a larger pattern in the lights, their tracery. —Ben Lerner, Harper's Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023

The spots begin to move, and slip-sliding traceries of luminosity explode. —Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023

While nearly all the rooms are impressive, the study is definitely a showstopper with its fancy plaster tracery ceiling. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tracery

noun

trac·​ery ˈtrās-(ə-)rē 

plural traceries

: ornamental work with many branching lines