braid

1 of 2

verb

ˈbrād 

braided; braiding; braids

transitive verb

1

a

: to make from braids

braid a rug

b

: to form (three or more strands) into a braid

2

: to do up (the hair) by interweaving three or more strands

3

: mix, intermingle

braid fact with fiction

4

: to ornament especially with ribbon or braid

braider noun

braid

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a length of braided hair

b

: a cord or ribbon having usually three or more component strands forming a regular diagonal pattern down its length

especially : a narrow fabric of intertwined threads used especially for trimming

2

: high-ranking naval officers

Synonyms

Verb

• plait
• plat
• pleat

Noun

• lace
• lacing
• plait
• plat

Examples of braid in a Sentence

Verb

She braids her hair every morning.

they taught each other how to braid yarn into bracelets

Noun

a hat trimmed with braid

until she was 15, she had a braid that reached to her knees

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Nazis used some of the same references, braiding environmental purity and racial purity. —Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, 19 Oct. 2024

Like the popular boho style, pick-and-drop braids are created by braiding the hair and leaving the ends loose. —Jessica Fields, Essence, 17 Oct. 2024

Noun

The multitude of braided protective styles available (like stitch cornrows, passion twists, Fulani braids, and boho braids) turn switching up your hairstyle into a choose-your-own-adventure game. —Kiara Byrd, Allure, 31 Oct. 2024

Austin — who shares her daughter with husband Ice-T, 66 — accessorized her look with a pair of hot pink sunglasses and pulled her blonde hair back in two braids. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English breyden to move suddenly, snatch, plait, from Old English bregdan; akin to Old High German brettan to draw (a sword)

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing braid

• box braid
• french braid

Kids Definition

braid

1 of 2 verb

ˈbrād 

1

: to form strands into a braid

2

: to ornament especially with ribbon or braid

braider noun

braid

2 of 2 noun

: a length of cord, ribbon, or hair formed of three or more strands woven together