plaids

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Pieces of clothing, especially shirts or blankets, that have a pattern of crossing lines in different colors.

   Grammar: Countable noun; use it for individual items. The singular is plaid.

   Patterns

   • wear plaids
   • a rack of plaids

   The store sells warm wool plaids for winter.

   He packed two plaids for the camping trip.

   She hung the plaids on the line to dry.

2. 2nouncountable

   Patterns of crossing lines in different colors, often seen on fabric.

   Grammar: Countable when referring to different patterns; uncountable when referring to the material or style in general.

   Patterns

   • a plaid pattern
   • in plaids

   The designer used bright plaids for the new collection.

   These plaids are traditional in Scotland.

   She likes to mix plaids with solid colors.

Word forms

Common combinations

wool plaids

The wool plaids are soft and warm.

plaid shirt

He wore a plaid shirt to the party.

plaid blanket

We spread a plaid blanket on the grass.

in plaid

She was dressed in plaid from head to toe.

Synonyms and how they differ

tartan

Tartan refers specifically to traditional Scottish patterns, while plaid can refer to any similar pattern or the clothing itself.

check

Check is a more general term for a pattern of squares, often smaller and simpler than plaid.

Word family

plaid noun

The singular form, meaning one such piece of clothing or pattern.

Commonly confused: plaids or plaid?

Practice

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