aigrette: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Specialized (Fashion/Ornithology/Botany)
Quick answer
What does “aigrette” mean?
A head ornament or piece of jewelry, often for a woman's hair or a hat, consisting of a spray of feathers, gemstones, or similar materials, or a tuft of long white feathers from the egret bird.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A head ornament or piece of jewelry, often for a woman's hair or a hat, consisting of a spray of feathers, gemstones, or similar materials, or a tuft of long white feathers from the egret bird.
1. An ornamental tuft of feathers, especially from the egret. 2. A plume of feathers, gems, or beads worn as a headdress or on a hat. 3. A feathery crown-like appendage in some plants, such as the down on certain seeds (e.g., dandelion).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. The fashion/ornithological term is equally rare in both varieties. The botanical sense is slightly more likely in formal scientific (botanical) texts, with no regional preference.
Connotations
Connotes vintage elegance, historical fashion (especially late 19th/early 20th century), and luxury. Can carry negative connotations related to the historical plume trade that endangered egrets.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency in everyday language. Most commonly encountered in historical novels, fashion history texts, or specific botanical descriptions.
Grammar
How to Use “aigrette” in a Sentence
[wear/be adorned with] + an aigrette[an aigrette] + [of + feathers/gems]the aigrette + [on/atop/in] + [her hair/the hat]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “aigrette” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not used as a standard adjective. 'Aigretted' is an extremely rare past participle meaning 'adorned with an aigrette'.
American English
- Not used as a standard adjective. 'Aigretted' is an extremely rare past participle meaning 'adorned with an aigrette'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used, except perhaps in very niche luxury fashion or antique jewelry marketing.
Academic
Used in historical studies of fashion, studies of the feather trade, and botanical texts describing seed morphology.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by someone with specific knowledge of historical fashion or botany.
Technical
Specific term in botany for a pappus (e.g., 'The seed is dispersed by wind thanks to its aigrette.') and in ornithology for the egret's breeding plume.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “aigrette”
- Misspelling as 'aigret', 'egrette', or 'aigret'.
- Mispronouncing with a hard 'g' (/aɪˈɡrɛt/).
- Using it as a general term for any hat or hair clip.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very low-frequency word used primarily in specific contexts like historical fashion, ornithology, and botany.
The word 'aigrette' comes from the French word for 'egret'. It originally referred specifically to the ornamental tuft of long, white breeding plumes from the egret bird.
Yes. In botany, it refers to a tuft of hairs or bristles attached to a seed, like on a dandelion or thistle, which aids in wind dispersal.
It is pronounced /ˈeɪ.ɡret/ (AY-gret) in both British and American English. The 'g' is soft, like in 'gem'.
A head ornament or piece of jewelry, often for a woman's hair or a hat, consisting of a spray of feathers, gemstones, or similar materials, or a tuft of long white feathers from the egret bird.
Aigrette is usually formal, literary, specialized (fashion/ornithology/botany) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an EGRET with a fancy GREY hat (Aigrette) on its head. 'Aigrette' sounds like 'a grey hat' and comes from the egret bird.
Conceptual Metaphor
FEATHERS ARE A CROWN/JEWELS (The aigrette elevates the wearer's status, like a crown).
Practice
Quiz
In which field would you MOST LIKELY encounter the technical use of 'aigrette'?