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verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

weave

weev

Weave (verb) means to make fabric or a similar structure by crossing threads or strands over and under each other. Example: “She wove a basket from thin strips of willow.”

verb
1
To make fabric or a similar structure by crossing threads or strands over and under each other.
"She wove a basket from thin strips of willow."
"The mill weaves cotton into fine cloth."
2
To move by twisting and turning, especially through obstacles.
"The cyclist weaved through the heavy traffic."
noun
1
A particular style or pattern of weaving, or hair extensions attached to blend with natural hair.
"She got a new weave installed before the wedding."

How to use weave

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo interlace threads into fabric, or more generally to move in a winding, back-and-forth path.

Common mistake

Past tense "wove," past participle "woven" (for cloth); but "weave through traffic" uses "weaved" in the driving sense.

Common pairings
weave through weave a story hand-woven

Word forms

wove past tense, weaved past tense, woven past tense, weaved past tense, weaves plural, weaves singular, weaves singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The mill _____ cotton into fine cloth.

Etymology

From Old English wefan, an ancient Germanic verb meaning "to weave" or "to braid."

Origin: Old English

Related words

Rhymes for weave

See all rhymes for weave →

Frequently asked questions

What does “weave” mean?

The word “weave” means to make fabric or a similar structure by crossing threads or strands over and under each other. In plain terms, to interlace threads into fabric, or more generally to move in a winding, back-and-forth path.

How do you pronounce “weave”?

“Weave” is pronounced weev (/wiːv/ in IPA).

How do you use “weave” in a sentence?

Here is “weave” used in a sentence: “The mill weaves cotton into fine cloth.”

What part of speech is “weave”?

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

Where does the word “weave” come from?

The word “weave” comes from Old English. From Old English wefan, an ancient Germanic verb meaning "to weave" or "to braid.".

Is “weave” a common word?

“Weave” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “weave” have?

“Weave” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make fabric or a similar structure by crossing threads or strands over and under each other.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial