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Meaning & use

plaited

verb, adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈplætɪd/
US/ˈpleɪtɪd/

“plaited” is a form of “plait”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive or intransitiveBritish

    Formed hair or material into a length of three or more strands woven together.

    Grammar: Can take an object (plaited her hair) or be used without one (her hair plaited neatly).

    Patterns

    • plait something
    • plait something into something
    • be plaited

    She plaited her daughter's hair before school.

    The girls plaited flowers into their hair for the festival.

    His hair was plaited in a single long braid down his back.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounBritish

    Having hair or material arranged in a plait or plaits.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: a plaited hairstyle, plaited bread.

    Patterns

    • plaited hair
    • plaited bread
    • a plaited style

    She wore a plaited hairstyle to the wedding.

    The bakery sells sweet plaited bread at Easter.

    He had neatly plaited hair that reached his shoulders.

Word forms

base formplait
third person singularplaits
past tenseplaited
past participleplaited
-ing formplaiting

Common combinations

plaited hair
Her plaited hair stayed neat all day.
tightly plaited
The rope was tightly plaited and very strong.
plaited bread
We bought a loaf of plaited bread from the market.
neatly plaited
Her hair was neatly plaited with a ribbon.

Synonyms and how they differ

braided
The usual American word for the same idea; 'plaited' is more common in British English.
woven
Used more for cloth or baskets; 'plaited' is used especially for hair and bread.

Opposites

looseunplaited

Word family

plait noun
A length of hair or material formed by weaving strands together.
plaiting noun
The activity or result of weaving strands together.

Commonly confused: plaited or plated? plaited or pleated?

plaited vs plated

Means 'covered with a thin layer of metal' or 'served on a plate'. It sounds similar but is not related to hair.

plaited vs pleated

Means 'having folds pressed into cloth', as in a pleated skirt. It is a different way of arranging material.

Practice

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