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Synonyms

pleat

American  
[pleet] / plit /

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.

pleat British  
/ 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

"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

verb

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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • pleater noun
  • pleatless adjective
  • unpleated adjective

Etymology

Origin of pleat

1325–75; Middle English; variant of plait

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He complimented her on her blue pleated skirt and white blouse.

From The Wall Street Journal

Her designs are made using traditional techniques such as pleating and draping and she sources tartan from local fabric mills honouring the "craftsmanship of traditional kiltmaking".

From BBC

Her white umbrella, matching wide-brimmed hat and long gauzy veil was complemented by a sleeveless turquoise dress over pleated white trousers.

From Barron's

A new Alice + Olivia spring collection features long pleated skirts and silk bomber jackets with an ethereal tarot-card print that was made with the help of Leonardo AI and Adobe Firefly.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was complemented by a sleeveless turquoise dress over pleated white trousers.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.