espadrilles

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Light summer shoes with a canvas top and a flat sole made of woven rope or similar material.

   Grammar: Plural of espadrille; usually described by the pair.

   Patterns

   • a pair of espadrilles

   She wore white espadrilles with her linen dress.

   He packed a pair of espadrilles for the beach holiday.

   The market stall sold hand-made espadrilles in many colors.

2. 2nouncountable

   Shoes of this style with a high wedge heel, usually tied around the ankle.

   Grammar: Often used with the word wedge: wedge espadrilles.

   Patterns

   • wedge espadrilles

   She chose wedge espadrilles for the garden party.

   The espadrilles had ribbons that tied around her ankles.

   Platform espadrilles became fashionable again this summer.

Word forms

Common combinations

pair of espadrilles

I bought a pair of espadrilles in Spain.

canvas espadrilles

Canvas espadrilles dry quickly after rain.

wedge espadrilles

Wedge espadrilles are comfortable for long walks.

rope-soled espadrilles

Rope-soled espadrilles can fray if worn in water.

slip on espadrilles

She slipped on her espadrilles and went out.

Synonyms and how they differ

sandals

Sandals have open straps, while espadrilles usually cover the top of the foot with fabric.

plimsolls

Plimsolls are British rubber-soled canvas sports shoes, so they are sportier than espadrilles with their woven soles.

flip-flops

Flip-flops are very casual beach shoes with a thong strap, and are less dressy than espadrilles.

slip-ons

Slip-ons is a broad term for any shoes without laces, while espadrilles is a specific style.

Opposites

Word family

espadrille noun

one shoe of the pair

shoe noun

a covering for the foot

footwear noun

shoes and boots in general

Commonly confused: espadrilles or sandals?

Practice

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