embroider

English

Etymology

From Middle English embroudren, frequentative of embrouden, from Anglo-Norman embrouder, intensive of brosder, brouder (compare Norman broudaïr), from Gothic *𐌱𐍂𐌿𐌶𐌳𐍉𐌽 (*bruzdōn), blend of *bursta (“bristle”) and *brordōn (“to stitch”) (compare Old High German brortōn). More at bristle and brad.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈbɹɔɪdɚ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪmˈbɹɔɪdə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔɪdə(ɹ)
• Hyphenation: em‧broi‧der

Verb

embroider (third-person singular simple present embroiders, present participle embroidering, simple past and past participle embroidered)

1. To stitch a decorative design on fabric with needle and thread of various colours.
2. (figuratively) To add imaginary detail to a narrative to make it more interesting or acceptable.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• “embroider”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “embroider”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “embroider”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.