brocade
/brə'keid/
Definition
Noun:
- A rich, heavy fabric, often made of silk, cotton, or synthetic fibers, woven with a raised, intricate, and often multi-colored pattern. The pattern is typically created during the weaving process using a supplementary weft thread, giving the fabric a luxurious, embossed appearance.
Verb:
- To weave or decorate (a fabric) with a raised, intricate pattern, creating a brocade.
Usage
- Noun: Used to describe the fabric itself, often in contexts of fashion, upholstery, or historical textiles.
- Verb: Used to describe the action of creating such a fabric. This verb form is less common in everyday language than the noun.
Examples
- Noun:
- The bride wore a stunning gown made of red silk brocade.
- The antique chair was upholstered in faded gold brocade.
- Verb:
- Artisans in the workshop brocade the silk using traditional wooden looms.
- This technique is used to brocade intricate floral designs into the fabric.
Advanced Usage
- "Brocaded" (Adjective): Describes something that is decorated with or resembles brocade.
- She wore a brocaded jacket to the ceremony.
- The walls had a brocaded texture.
Variants and Related Words
- Brocader (noun): A person who weaves brocade (rarely used).
- Brocading (noun/gerund): The process or art of weaving brocade.
Synonyms
- Noun: Damask, jacquard, tapestry (though each has specific technical differences).
- Verb: Embroider (note: embroidery is a surface technique, while brocading is woven in), weave, figure.
Antonyms
- Noun: Plain cloth, calico, muslin (fabrics without raised patterns).
- Verb: Unweave, unravel.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- While there are no common idioms using "brocade," the word is often used in descriptive phrases:
- Brocade of flowers: A literary metaphor describing a dense, intricate pattern of flowers.
- Life's rich brocade: A poetic phrase suggesting life is a complex and beautiful tapestry of experiences.
Noun
-
thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern
Verb
-
weave a design into (textiles)
