braid

1 of 2

verb

braided; braiding; braids

transitive verb

1
a
: to make from braids
braid a rug
b
: to form (three or more strands) into a braid
2
: to do up (the hair) by interweaving three or more strands
3
: mix, intermingle
braid fact with fiction
4
: to ornament especially with ribbon or braid
braider noun

braid

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a length of braided hair
b
: a cord or ribbon having usually three or more component strands forming a regular diagonal pattern down its length
especially : a narrow fabric of intertwined threads used especially for trimming
2
: high-ranking naval officers

Examples of braid in a Sentence

Verb She braids her hair every morning. they taught each other how to braid yarn into bracelets Noun a hat trimmed with braid until she was 15, she had a braid that reached to her knees
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Trade wars levied up to 145% tariffs on Chinese imports (since decreased to 30%), increasing the cost of products like braiding hair, hair oil, and wigs. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 28 May 2025 The brother and sister duo, both from Little Rock, sat at a booth along the midway, each offering their own unique services: Dailey braids hair while Reynolds paints faces. Parker Mancino, Arkansas Online, 18 May 2025
Noun
Ortega did not walk the red carpet in Wednesday's trademark pigtail braids, but instead wore her hair parted to the side and styled in soft curls at the ends, with her bangs shaped and sculpted into a perfect twirly little swoop atop her forehead. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 2 June 2025 Here’s what tariffs mean for braids and wigs Roblox’s hit farm game spurs underground digital fruit economy 49ers expand reach in European soccer, buy majority stake of Glasgow club Rangers Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Larry Magid, Mercury News, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for braid

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English breyden to move suddenly, snatch, plait, from Old English bregdan; akin to Old High German brettan to draw (a sword)

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of braid was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Braid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/braid. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

braid

1 of 2 verb
1
: to form strands into a braid
2
: to ornament especially with ribbon or braid
braider noun

braid

2 of 2 noun
: a length of cord, ribbon, or hair formed of three or more strands woven together

More from Merriam-Webster on braid

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