Pleat
/pliːt/
Definitions
2 meaningsA fold in a fabric made by doubling the material over and securing it.
/pliːt/
A fold in cloth or other material, made by doubling the material over and securing it.
The tailor added pleats to the back of the jacket to give it more shape.
💡 Simply: Imagine your favorite school uniform skirt. Those little folds that make it look nice? Those are pleats! It's like folding fabric in a special way to make it more interesting.
👶 For kids: A pleat is like a little fold in your clothes that makes them look fancy!
More Examples
The fabric was gathered and then sewn with pleats to create a textured effect.
The designer incorporated knife pleats into the skirt's design.
Her skirt has beautiful pleats.
How It's Used
"The skirt had several deep pleats that gave it a flowing look."
"She carefully ironed the pleats into the fabric."
To form or arrange (fabric) in pleats.
/pliːt/
To fold (cloth or fabric) into pleats.
The seamstress pleated the silk fabric meticulously.
💡 Simply: Pleating is like making those special folds in fabric. You're not just folding it randomly; you're making it look neat and organized, kind of like when you neatly fold your paper for an origami project.
👶 For kids: To pleat means to fold cloth in a special way to make pretty folds!
More Examples
She learned how to pleat a skirt in her sewing class.
He carefully pleated the curtains to achieve a symmetrical design.
They pleated the fabric before making the skirt.
How It's Used
"She carefully pleated the fabric before sewing it into the garment."
"The designer pleated the skirt to give it more volume."
From Middle French *pli*, past participle of *plier* 'to fold', from Latin *plicare* 'to fold'.
The word 'pleat' has been used in English since the 16th century, mainly to describe the folds in clothing and drapery.
Memory tip
Think of a *pleat* as a perfectly pressed fold.
Word Origin
"to fold"