I. ˈwēv verb
( wove ˈwōv ; or weaved ; woven ˈwōvən ; or weaved ; weaving ; weaves )
Etymology: Middle English weven, from Old English wefan; akin to Old High German weban to weave, Old Norse vefa, Greek hyphos web, hyphainein to weave, Sanskrit ubhnāti he laces up, covers over, ūrṇavābhi spider
transitive verb
1.
a. : to form (cloth) by interlacing strands (as of yarn) ; specifically : to make (cloth) on a loom by interlacing warp and filling threads
b. : to interlace (as threads) into a cloth
weave wool into tweeds
c. : to join, mend, or embroider (woven or knited fabric) with stitches that match or imitate those of the article
d. : to make (as a basket or wreath) by intertwining rushes, twigs, or flowers
weave a chair seat
weave a garland
the girls … weave crowns of snowdrops, violets, and other flowers — J.G.Frazer
2. : spin — used chiefly of spiders and some insects
3. : to twist together or interlace especially to form a texture, fabric, or design : entwine
weave osiers into baskets
weave the holly round the Christmas hearth — Alfred Tennyson
4.
a. : to produce by elaborately combining available materials or elements : contrive
weave a plot
enchantments that you wove — G.B.Shaw
— often used with about or around
weave a new romance about the fallen hopes — V.L.Parrington
weave around it a story of violence and intrigue — John Brooks
b. : to bring together and interrelate so as to form a coherent whole : join , unite — usually used with into or together
had woven episodes from many sources into a single narrative
richly weaves together varied aspects of experience — New Republic
c. : to introduce as an appropriate element : work in — usually used with in or into
weaving in an exciting subplot — Chad Walsh
wove into their songs the theme of jubilee — W.F.Hambly
5. Scotland : knit
6. : to direct (as the body) in a winding or zigzag course especially to avoid obstacles
going about the crowd and weaving her person in and out — Thomas DeQuincey
intransitive verb
1. : to work at weaving : make cloth
2. of an insect : to spin a web or cocoon
3. : to move in a devious, winding, or zigzag course turning or twisting in and out especially to avoid obstacles
weaves down the ice with the puck
weaved in and out through the traffic
weaving through opposing tacklers for a 20-yard gain
among them ran the children, playing, weaving in and out — Irwin Shaw
4.
a. : to move across and back repeatedly : shuttle
can weave back and forth between periods of time at his will — Bernard DeVoto
b. : to spread a weld by moving the electrode back and forth across the line of travel in arc welding
II. noun
( -s )
1. : something woven ; especially : woven cloth : fabric
2. : any of the patterns or methods for interlacing the threads of woven fabrics — see plain weave , satin weave , twill weave
3. : a slow lateral motion of the projected image on a motion-picture screen
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English weven to move to and fro, wave, signal; akin to Old Norse veifa to wave — more at wife
transitive verb
obsolete : to signal to (a ship or its passengers) by waving
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move unsteadily or waveringly from side to side : sway
a tree weaving before it falls
his knees buckle slightly as he weaves on his feet — Wayne Hughes
was weaving and had trouble finding the keyhole — Polly Adler
his eyes close, his head weaves, and the music … starts — Time
b.
(1) : to move from side to side incessantly and restlessly : rock , oscillate
the preacher … weaving first to one side of the platform and then the other — Mark Twain
(2) of a horse : to sway and shift weight nervously — compare weaving
the horse that bucks … weaves — American Guide Series: Nevada
c. : to lurch or stagger from side to side while moving forward : reel , careen
weaving down the sidewalk was a trio of drunken sailors — Boston Herald
2. : to work one's way toward or away from a boxing opponent while eluding his blows with swaying, turning, and slipping movements of the body
a middleweight … fast, shifty, hard-hitting, weaving in with short, savage punches — Gene Tunney