plait

1 of 2

noun

ˈplāt  ˈplat 

1

: pleat

2

: a braid of material (such as hair or straw)

specifically : pigtail

plait

2 of 2

verb

plaited; plaiting; plaits

transitive verb

1

: pleat sense 1

2

a

: to interweave the strands or locks of : braid

b

: to make by plaiting

plait a basket

plaiter noun

Synonyms

Noun

• braid
• lace
• lacing
• plat

Verb

• braid
• plat
• pleat

Examples of plait in a Sentence

Noun

She wore her hair in plaits.

she wore a plait down her back that reached her waist

Verb

My mum taught me how to plait my own hair.

plaited the doll's hair so it wouldn't tangle

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In Jamaica, women also wore their curly fros in simple protective styles: buns with a little gel, or loose plaits—while men confidently sported locs at every length or braids in eccentric styles. —Essence, 8 Sep. 2024

Elsewhere updos were given new vitality through modern colours and fun plaits. —Zoe Anastasiou, refinery29.com, 9 Jan. 2024

Verb

The key difference is that Bora Bora braids are typically plaited in line with the existing length of your natural hair, allowing the remainder of the curly human hair to billow outwards and form the bulk of the hairstyle. —Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 29 July 2024

Even Kim Kardashian’s tousled platinum hair was loosely plaited into a fishtail braid in the back. —Hannah Coates, Vogue, 7 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

variant of pleat entry 2

Verb

variant of pleat entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

plait

1 of 2 verb

ˈplāt  ˈplat 

1

: pleat sense 1

2

a

: braid entry 1 sense 1

b

: to make by braiding

plaiting a basket

plaiter noun

plait

2 of 2 noun

1

: a flat fold : pleat

2

: a flat braid (as of hair)