Meaning & use
braille
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
A system of writing and printing for blind people, using raised dots that are read by touch.
Grammar: No plural; say 'in braille' or 'written in braille'.
Patterns
- in braille
- written in braille
- read braille
The museum guide is available in braille at the entrance.
She learned to read braille when she was six years old.
He runs his fingers over the braille to find the room number.
verbtransitive
To write or print something using the braille system of raised dots.
Grammar: Takes an object: braille a document, braille the labels.
Patterns
- braille something
- braille something for someone
The school brailles textbooks for its visually impaired students.
Could you braille this menu for our guests?
The labels were brailled by volunteers.
Word forms
| third person singular | brailles |
|---|---|
| past tense | brailled |
| past participle | brailled |
| -ing form | brailling |
Common combinations
- in braille
- The instructions are printed in braille.
- braille display
- A refreshable braille display lets users read text from a computer.
- learn braille
- Many blind children learn braille at an early age.
- braille book
- The library has a large collection of braille books.
Word family
- braillist noun
- A person who transcribes text into braille.
Commonly confused: braille or Braille?
braille vs Braille
As a proper noun, 'Braille' refers to Louis Braille, the inventor of the system. The common noun and verb are usually written in lowercase.
Practice
The novel was translated into braille ___ the local association.
Choose one answer.
'By' introduces the agent who performs the action: 'translated into braille by the association.' 'With' would suggest using a tool, and 'of' and 'from' do not fit the passive structure.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “braille”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.