/ riːð; NAmE / verb ( formal )
1.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] wreathe sth (in / with sth) to surround or cover sth :
The mountain tops were wreathed in mist.
( figurative )
Her face was wreathed in smiles (= she was smiling a lot) .
2.
[ v + adv. / prep. ] to move slowly and lightly, especially in circles
SYN weave :
smoke wreathing into the sky
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: partly a back-formation from archaic wrethen , past participle of writhe , reinforced by wreath .