plait

1 of 2

noun

1
: pleat
2
: a braid of material (such as hair or straw)
specifically : pigtail

plait

2 of 2

verb

plaited; plaiting; plaits

transitive verb

1
2
a
: to interweave the strands or locks of : braid
b
: to make by plaiting
plait a basket
plaiter noun

Examples of plait in a Sentence

Noun She wore her hair in plaits. she wore a plait down her back that reached her waist Verb My mum taught me how to plait my own hair. plaited the doll's hair so it wouldn't tangle
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Justine Skye offered motivation for maintaining a fitness routine despite the holiday frenzy—all while shaking out a mane of thigh-reaching plaits—while Vittoria Ceretti took her aesthetic signatures on the road, with glossed lips, rumpled lengths, and power brows providing a visual thread. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 3 Dec. 2023 This wasn’t an average braided ponytail because three plaits sprouted from the nape of her neck instead of just one. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 20 Sep. 2023 Meanwhile, Blackpink’s Rosé styled her liquid liner with French plaits and pale pink nails, the details making for a sweet combination. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2023 Part your hair all the way to the nape of your neck and braid it into two plaits on either side of your head. Jill Gleeson, Country Living, 16 Aug. 2023 But even the smaller details dazzle: Clouds gather in the sky like marvelous plaits of hair, and Nin’s coiffure sometimes rises like heavens. Jacob Brogan, Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2023 Her hair was roughly parted on the side and braided into two plaits. Gabi Thorne, Allure, 25 July 2023 In a twist on her signature double braids, Princess Charlotte’s plaits were swept back into a braided bun — taking the look to a new level! Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 17 June 2023 Available in three styles — a small crossbody and a medium and large rectangle shape — each tote’s exterior is trimmed in a light or dark brown leather with handles braided in a fishtail plait. Kin Woo Gisela Williams Alexa Brazilian Juan A. Ramírez Juliet Izon Eric Margolis, New York Times, 15 June 2023
Verb
Sam Smith Changes from Towering Heels and a Skirt to a Taffeta Gown at British Fashion Awards The musician also modeled a second look in the show, featuring a black polka-dot top worn under a black floor-length jacket with material that appeared to be shredded and plaited into a design. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024 If your stylist is plaiting your hair too tightly, be vocal and ask them to ease up. Annie Blay, Allure, 28 Feb. 2024 My fork reached for one of them, my blue hair plaited and pinned up, arms stretching outward and upward. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2023 The precarious situation plaited by these threads is the subject of Bryon’s film, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 June 2023 Princess Anne noted the rural communities who, in their attention to detail, had cleaned their tractors and plaited their horses’ manes. Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 7 May 2023 Worn in half-up half-down pigtails that were plaited back from her face, her hair was secured with mini pink bows. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2023 Halle Bailey’s statement plaits skewed statuesque, a feel also favored by Danai Gurira with her towering updo. Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 12 Mar. 2023 Her mother then plaits her thick hair into two Dutch braids that fit under her helmet for the show ring. Mckenna Oxenden, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plait.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

variant of pleat entry 2

Verb

variant of pleat entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of plait was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near plait

Cite this Entry

“Plait.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plait. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

plait

1 of 2 verb
1
2
b
: to make by braiding
plaiting a basket
plaiter noun

plait

2 of 2 noun
1
: a flat fold : pleat
2
: a flat braid (as of hair)

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