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noun

Braille

BRAYL

Braille (noun) means a writing system of raised dots that blind and partially sighted people read with their fingertips. Example: “The lift buttons had braille labels beside the numbers.”

noun
1
A writing system of raised dots that blind and partially sighted people read with their fingertips.
"The lift buttons had braille labels beside the numbers."
verb
1
To transcribe text into the braille system.
"The book was brailled for the school's visually impaired students."

How to use Braille

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tactile alphabet of raised dots that lets blind people read by touch.

Common pairings
read braille braille signage learn braille

Word forms

brailled past tense, brailles plural, brailles singular

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Test yourself on “Braille” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Can you complete this real example?

The lift buttons had _____ labels beside the numbers.

Etymology

Named after Louis Braille (1809-1852), the French educator who invented the system as a teenager.

Origin: French · First attested 1809

Class of 1809 Braille joined the language around 1809.
See the full Class of 1809 →

Rhymes for Braille

See all rhymes for Braille →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Braille” mean?

The word “Braille” means a writing system of raised dots that blind and partially sighted people read with their fingertips. In plain terms, a tactile alphabet of raised dots that lets blind people read by touch.

How do you pronounce “Braille”?

“Braille” is pronounced BRAYL (/ˈbɹeɪ̯l/ in IPA).

How do you use “Braille” in a sentence?

Here is “Braille” used in a sentence: “The lift buttons had braille labels beside the numbers.”

What part of speech is “Braille”?

Depending on how it is used, “Braille” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “Braille” come from?

The word “Braille” dates back to around 1809 and comes from French. Named after Louis Braille (1809-1852), the French educator who invented the system as a teenager.

How many meanings does “Braille” have?

“Braille” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a writing system of raised dots that blind and partially sighted people read with their fingertips.

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