tassel

/'tæsəl/

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Word: Tassel

Part of Speech: Noun

Basic Definition: A tassel is a decorative piece made of a bunch of cords that are tied together at one end. It often hangs down and is used to add beauty to items like clothing, curtains, or hats.

Usage Instructions:

• When to Use: You can use "tassel" when talking about decoration or embellishments. It’s common to see tassels on graduation caps, curtains, and decorative pillows.
• How to Use in a Sentence: "She added a colorful tassel to her bag to make it look more stylish."

Example Sentences:

1. The curtains in the living room had beautiful golden tassels.
2. He wore a graduation cap with a long, flowing tassel that swayed as he walked.
3. The craft store sells tassels in many colors for various DIY projects.

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, "tassel" can refer to tassels used in academic settings, like on graduation caps, symbolizing achievement. For example, "The graduates turned their tassels from right to left as a symbol of their transition from students to alumni."

Word Variants:

• Tasseled (Adjective): Describing something that has tassels. For example, "She wore a tasseled scarf."
• Tasseling (Verb): The action of adding or decorating with tassels.

Different Meanings:

• In botany, "tassel" can refer to a flowering structure in some plants, such as corn.
• In a more informal context, it can also refer to any cluster or group that resembles a tassel.

Synonyms:

• Fringe
• Pom-pom
• Decoration
• Braid

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that commonly use "tassel," but you might see "to add a tassel" used metaphorically to mean adding a finishing touch or decoration to something.

Summary:

A "tassel" is a decorative item usually made of cords, tied at one end, and it serves to beautify objects.

Academic

Noun

1. adornment consisting of a bunch of cords fastened at one end