Meaning & use
smocked
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“smocked” is a form of “smock”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
decorated with smocking, small gathered folds of cloth held in place by rows of stitches.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: a smocked dress.
Patterns
- a smocked dress
- smocked with something
The baby wore a smocked dress with tiny flowers.
She admired the smocked cuffs on the blouse.
A smocked bodice stretches comfortably.
adjectivebefore a nounold-fashioned
wearing a smock, a loose, shirtlike garment worn over clothes for protection.
Grammar: A less common use: a smocked artist.
Patterns
- a smocked painter
The smocked painter stood by his easel.
A smocked child splashed in paint.
The smocked workers went in at six.
Common combinations
- smocked dress
- She sewed a smocked dress for her niece.
- smocked bodice
- The smocked bodice fits snugly.
- smocked waist
- The skirt has a smocked waist.
- smocked top
- I bought a smocked top for summer.
- hand-smocked
- The hand-smocked collar took hours to make.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gathered
- Gathered describes fabric pulled into folds, while smocked adds decorative stitching holding the folds.
- ruched
- Ruched fabric is pulled into soft folds, often without the geometric stitch pattern smocked work has.
- pleated
- Pleated means neatly folded and pressed, which is more regular than smocked.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: smocked or smoked?
smocked vs smoked
Smoked means treated with smoke, as in smoked fish, but smocked is about fabric.
Practice
The baby's dress had a ___ front, with tiny gathered stitches.
Choose one answer.
Smocked describes gathered, stitched fabric. Smoked, soaked and stoked have other meanings and don't describe clothing details.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “smocked”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.