pleat

[ pleet ]
See synonyms for pleat on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a fold of definite, even width made by doubling cloth or the like upon itself and pressing or stitching it in place.

verb (used with object)
  1. to fold or arrange in pleats.

Origin of pleat

1
1325–75; Middle English; variant of plait

Other words from pleat

  • pleater, noun
  • pleatless, adjective
  • un·pleat·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pleat in a sentence

  • However, Muriel in her salmon-coloured, accordion-pleated frock bowled Michael off his superior pedestal.

    Sinister Street, vol. 1 | Compton Mackenzie
  • It seemed to have been pleated and shoved together like an accordion.

    Hunters Out of Space | Joseph Everidge Kelleam
  • She was attired in an imported gown of pleated French chiffon in two shades of silvery gray.

  • Bendemeer inspected the brownish lump, and as he understood, his thin lips pleated and his glance quickened.

  • On their heads they wear a curious kind of pleated cap, fastened round the chin by a strap.

British Dictionary definitions for pleat

pleat

/ (pliːt) /


noun
  1. any of various types of fold formed by doubling back fabric and pressing, stitching, or steaming into place: See also box pleat, inverted pleat, kick pleat, knife pleat, sunburst pleats

verb
  1. (tr) to arrange (material, part of a garment, etc) in pleats

Origin of pleat

1
C16: variant of plait

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012