Words / B2

im-BROYD-uh-ree/ɪmˈbrɔɪdəri/

Embroidery is the art of sewing patterns with thread, or those sewn patterns: gold embroidery; an embroidery sampler. Sewing is broader; tapestry is woven; stitch is the unit. Date the embroidery in the museum catalogue, then the stitch type. Mix-up: embroidery vs embroider as a verb meaning to exaggerate a story; do not write embroidery for a printed pattern with no thread.

Meaning

The art of sewing patterns with thread; also those sewn patterns (often uncountable as the craft).

Examples

• “Date the embroidery in the museum catalogue, then the stitch type, not a fashion slogan.”
• “Embroidery of the facts featured in the inquiry, which is the exaggerate-a-story sense of embroider — still quote the minutes.”

Good to know

gold / silk embroidery; an embroidery hoop / sampler. Verb: embroider (also “exaggerate”). Close: sewing / needlework. Trap: a print with no thread. History, DT, and literature. Sewn thread decoration — date the stitch; the story sense is the verb.

Near in meaning

needlework, sewing, stitching

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