English Explanatory Dictionary

pleat

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A fold in the fabric of a garment, usually a skirt, as a part of the design of the garment, with the purpose of adding controlled fullness and freedom of movement, or taking up excess fabric. There are many types of pleats, differing in their construction and appearance.
  2. A similar fold in a filter, lampshade, or various other products.
  3. A fold in an organ, usually a longitudinal fold in a long leaf such as that of palmetto, lending it stiffness.
  4. A plait.
verb
  1. To form one or more pleats in a piece of fabric or a garment.
  2. To plait.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/pliːt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-pleat.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-pleat.wav

Word forms

pleat pleats pleating pleated

Etymology

From Middle English, from a variant of plait, from Old French pleit. Doublet of plait.

Synonyms

ruffle

Derived words

accordion pleat box pleat cartridge pleat Fortuny pleat honeycomb pleat inverted box pleat kick pleat knife pleat organ pleat pencil pleat reet pleat sunburst pleat Watteau pleat pleatless pleatlike pleaty pleatable pleater repleat unpleat
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