tapestry

noun

tap·​es·​try ˈta-pə-strē 

plural tapestries

1

a

: a heavy handwoven reversible textile used for hangings, curtains, and upholstery and characterized by complicated pictorial designs

b

: a nonreversible imitation of tapestry used chiefly for upholstery

c

: embroidery on canvas resembling woven tapestry

needlepoint tapestry

2

: something resembling tapestry (as in complexity or richness of design)

nature's rich tapestry

Examples of tapestry in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The leftist coalition in Chicago politics, ever a complex tapestry of groups and causes, took four decades to win the mayor’s seat after coalescing around Johnson last year. —Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2024

Laure Prouvost’s vast tapestry ‘Above front tears’( 2024) was created with Flanders Tapestries BVBA and features fish-bird hybrid creatures, flamingos, foliage and mountains, in a washed out pastel palette evoking a fading, otherworldly paradise. —Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024

Behind the scenes: The fragile tapestries were winched up and carefully fixed in place along the top. —Claire Reilly, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024

The tapestry includes 22 different shades of red, Ganteaume says. —Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French tapicerie, from tapit, tapis carpet, hanging, from Greek tapētion, diminutive of tapēt-, tapēs carpet

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing tapestry

• tapestry carpet

Kids Definition

tapestry

noun

tap·​es·​try ˈtap-ə-strē 

plural tapestries

: a heavy cloth that has designs or pictures woven into it and is used especially as a wall hanging

tapestried

-strēd

adjective