tapestry
noun
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Several languages weave through the history of tapestry, which comes from a Greek word meaning “carpet” and traveled through Anglo-French and Middle English before arriving in modern English in the 15th century. Tapestry originally referred to a heavy handwoven reversible textile used for hangings, curtains, and upholstery, and characterized by complicated pictorial designs. It still does today, but the word has fittingly developed a “tapestry” of additional senses. It may describe a nonreversible imitation of tapestry used chiefly for upholstery, or embroidery on canvas resembling woven tapestry. It can also refer figuratively to anything made up of different parts, as in “nature’s rich tapestry.” Tapestry isn’t the only art word that’s developed a figurative “medley” sense; collage (“a work of art made by adhering pieces of different materials (such as paper, cloth, or wood) to a flat surface”) and mosaic (“a decoration made by inlaying small pieces of variously colored material (such as glass or ceramic) to form pictures or patterns”) are both used figuratively to mean “a collection of different things.”
Examples of tapestry in a Sentence
Tom Cherveny, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026
In this bathroom, a macrame tapestry, a rattan basket, and a geometric wooden shelf give the space a relaxed feel.
—Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 May 2026
Embark on a journey through six possible future worlds and engage with films, audio stories and soundscapes, installations and projections, costumes and tapestries, movie miniatures and speculative artefacts.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Built in 1425 and restored in the 1950s, the castle is furnished with art and tapestries from as early as the 14th century.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tapestry
Cite this Entry
“Tapestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tapestry. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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tapestry
noun
