embroider

English

Etymology

From Middle English embroudren, frequentative of embrouden, from Anglo-Norman embrouder, intensive of brosder, brouder (compare Norman broudaïr), from Frankish *brosdōn, blend of *bursta (“bristle”) and *brordōn (“to stitch”) (compare Old High German brortōn). More at bristle and brad.

Pronunciation
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔɪdə(ɹ)

Verb

embroider (third-person singular simple present embroiders, present participle embroidering, simple past and past participle embroidered)

  1. To stitch a decorative design on fabric with needle and thread of various colours.
  2. (figuratively) To add imaginary detail to a narrative to make it more interesting or acceptable.

Derived terms

Translations
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Translations to be checked

Further reading
  • embroider in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
  • embroider in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
  • embroider at OneLook Dictionary Search
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