embroidery

noun

em·​broi·​dery im-ˈbrȯi-d(ə-)rē 

plural embroideries

1

a

: the art or process of forming decorative designs with hand or machine needlework

b

: a design or decoration formed by or as if by embroidery

c

: an object decorated with embroidery

2

: elaboration by use of decorative and often fictitious detail

3

: something pleasing or desirable but unimportant

considered the humanities mere educational embroidery

Synonyms

• needlework

Examples of embroidery in a Sentence

She learned embroidery from her grandmother.

His stories about his travels include a good deal of embroidery.

Recent Examples on the Web

The collection also featured pleats, embroidery and draping, the latter used as a reference to classical statuary. —Allyson Portee, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 June 2024

That gesture indirectly led to Weber’s first Olympian encounter — Ireland’s Natalya Coyle, a three-time modern pentathlon competitor, reached out for embroidery for her wedding gown. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 24 June 2024

This time, the focus was on a 1955 collection that Christian Dior showed at Gleneagles, as well as on the history of Mary, Queen of Scots, and her passion for embroidery and its semiology. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 7 June 2024

Depending on their ability, the helpers are trained to perform a variety of jobs, including loading embroidery hoops into machines, packaging orders and speaking to customers. —Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 12 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

embroidery

noun

em·​broi·​dery im-ˈbrȯid-(ə-)rē 

plural embroideries

1

: the process or art of embroidering

2

: needlework done to decorate cloth