I. ˈbrād verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English breyden to move suddenly, snatch, weave together, from Old English bregdan; akin to Old High German brettan to draw (a sword), Old Norse bregtha to move suddenly, weave together, Greek phorkon something white or gray or wrinkled, Sanskrit bhrāśate it glitters; basic meaning: to shine
transitive verb
1.
a. : to form (three or more strands) into a cord or ribbon by repeatedly crossing a left and then a right strand over a central strand and under an opposite strand
b. : to make by braiding
braid a rug
braid a lanyard
2. : to do up (the hair) by interweaving three or more strands together into one or more lengths
3.
a. : to place or arrange in a diagonally woven or crisscross pattern
braiding bunting around lampposts
a secondary plot is braided through the novel
b. : intermingle , mix
braid fact with fiction
4. : to ornament especially with ribbon or braid : trim
the girls braided their hair with flowers
intransitive verb
1. dialect England : to take after : resemble — usually used with of
2. : to move in a crisscross pattern
streams braiding down a valley floor
II. noun
( -s )
1. : a cord or ribbon having usually three or more component strands forming a regular diagonal pattern down its length: as
a.
(1) : a flat or round length of narrow fabric of three or more closely intertwined threads made in various fancy patterns and used for trimming, binding, or outlining (as clothing or lace)
(2) : a band or cord (as of gold or silver) denoting rank (as on naval uniforms)
b.
(1) : a length of braided hair
schoolgirls in braids and blue uniforms
(2) : a string, band, ribbon, or similar strand binding or intertwined into the hair
a braid of flowers in her hair
c. : a woven covering for a central core (as in insulated electrical wire)
d. : a fancy bread made by intertwining lengths of dough
2. : a coarse grade of wool used chiefly in carpet manufacture
3. : commissioned military officers ; especially : high-ranking naval officers
differences of opinion between brass and braid over procurement — Bruce Bliven b.1889
— compare brass 5a
III.
Scotland
variant of broad
IV.
dialect
variant of bread