Definition

Noun: 1. A belt or sash worn around the waist, especially as part of a ceremonial or liturgical garment. It is a band, often made of cloth or cord, used to gird or encircle the waist. 2. Something that encircles or surrounds like a belt. This can be an architectural molding around a structure or any encircling band.

Usage

• The primary use of cincture is to describe a functional or decorative waistband, distinct from a typical belt, often having symbolic meaning.
• It is a formal and somewhat specialized term, most commonly found in religious, historical, or architectural contexts.

Examples

• The priest tightened the white cincture around his alb before the service.
• A simple cord served as a cincture for the monk's habit.
• The architect designed a decorative stone cincture around the base of the tower.

Advanced Usage

• "To cincture" (verb, rare/archaic): To encircle or surround with or as if with a belt.
  • Example: Ancient walls cincture the old city.

Variants and Related Words

• Cinctured (adjective): Encircled or girded with a cincture.
  • Example: The cinctured columns gave the building a classical feel.
• Girdle, Sash, Belt: These are more common synonyms, though each has specific connotations (e.g., a is often decorative, a can be undergarment).

Synonyms

• Girdle
• Sash
• Belt
• Waistband
• Encircling band

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym for a physical band. Conceptually, things like opening or breach could be opposites in the sense of an encircling wall.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• There are no common idioms using cincture. Its usage is primarily literal.

Noun

1. a band of material around the waist that strengthens a skirt or trousers