braid
B1General, with technical/specialised uses in textiles and military contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A length of hair, cord, or fibre woven together by intertwining three or more strands.
1. To weave hair, threads, etc., into a braid; to plait. 2. A strip of cloth, especially gold or silver, used for trimming or decoration on uniforms or garments.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun but also a verb. The decorative trim sense is prominent in military and formal wear contexts (e.g., officer's braid). Verb sense often overlaps with 'plait'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Noun: 'Braid' (US) often refers to what BrE calls a 'plait' for hair. In BrE, 'plait' is the everyday term for woven hair; 'braid' can sound more formal or American. Verb: Both use 'braid'/'plait', but BrE strongly favours 'plait' for hair.
Connotations
US: Common, everyday term for hairstyle. UK: Slightly more technical, decorative, or formal term; can sound Americanised when referring to hair.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English for hair styling. Roughly equal frequency in both for the trim/decoration sense.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
braid sth (with sth)braid sth togetherhave/get your hair braidedbe braided with goldVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None strongly lexicalised. 'To braid a narrative' is a metaphorical extension.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in fashion/textile industry (e.g., 'braided trim supplier').
Academic
Used in anthropology (hairstyles), material culture, military history.
Everyday
Common for hairstyles (esp. US), crafts, simple instructions.
Technical
Textiles/weaving, military insignia, electrical engineering (braided wire shield).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She learned to plait her daughter's hair into a neat braid.
- The craftsman braided the leather strands with great skill.
American English
- Can you braid my hair before the game?
- They braided ribbons into the horse's mane for the parade.
adverb
British English
- Not standard; no adverbial form. Use 'in braids' or 'braided'.
American English
- Not standard; no adverbial form. Use 'in braids' or 'braided'.
adjective
British English
- The braid trim on his blazer looked rather smart.
- She wore a braid headband.
American English
- She bought some braid cord for the craft project.
- His uniform had braid epaulettes.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her hair is in a long braid.
- I can braid three strings.
- She wore a colourful braid in her hair.
- The sailor's cap had gold braid on it.
- My sister taught me how to braid.
- The intricate braids were a traditional style for the ceremony.
- The upholstery was edged with a silken braid.
- He braided the narratives of three characters into a single novel.
- The general's stature was accentuated by the lavish braid on his uniform.
- Anthropologists studied the cultural significance of cornrow braids.
- The river delta consisted of several braided channels.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BRAID in a MAID's hair – both words rhyme and share the 'ai' spelling.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTERCONNECTEDNESS IS BRAIDING (e.g., 'braided narratives', 'braided rivers').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'борода' (beard). 'Braid' for hair is 'коса'. Decorative trim is 'галун' or 'плетёная тесьма'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'braid' as a verb without an object (*'She braids very well' – better: 'She is good at braiding hair'). Confusing 'braid' (interlaced) with 'bun' (rolled up).
Practice
Quiz
In British English, what is the most common everyday term for a hairstyle made by weaving three strands of hair?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often synonyms. 'Plait' is the preferred everyday term in British English for hair. 'Braid' is more common in American English for hair and is used for decorative trim (e.g., military).
Yes, it means to weave strands together. E.g., 'to braid hair' or 'to braid ropes'.
It typically refers to the decorative gold cord or strip used on military, naval, or ceremonial uniforms to denote rank or for ornamentation.
Yes, the past participle is commonly used as an adjective. E.g., 'braided hair', 'a braided river channel', 'braided electrical cable'.