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noun Uncommon

weaver

WEE-vuh
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Weaver (noun) means a person who weaves cloth, especially as an occupation. Example: “The weaver worked the loom late into the night.”

noun
1
A person who weaves cloth, especially as an occupation.
"The weaver worked the loom late into the night."
2
A small bird known for building elaborately woven nests.
"A weaver had built its nest hanging from the acacia branch."

How to use weaver

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who weaves cloth for a living, or a type of bird famous for its intricately woven nests.

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Word forms

Plural
weavers
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Fill the gap

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The _____ worked the loom late into the night.

Etymology

Comes from Middle English wevere or wever, from Old English *wefere, *wifre, or *wæfre (“weaver”, found in compounds), from Proto-West Germanic *webārī. By surface analysis, it breaks down as weave plus -er. Compare Saterland Frisian Weeuwer (“weaver”), Dutch wever (“weaver”), German Low German Wever (“weaver”), German Weber (“weaver”), Swedish vävare (“weaver”), and Icelandic vefari (“weaver”).

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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loom worker weaverbird

Rhymes for weaver

aver waver saver beaver shaver slaver braver Seaver cadaver cleaver lifesaver
See all rhymes for weaver →

Frequently asked questions

What does “weaver” mean?
The word “weaver” means a person who weaves cloth, especially as an occupation. In plain terms, someone who weaves cloth for a living, or a type of bird famous for its intricately woven nests.
How do you pronounce “weaver”?
“Weaver” is pronounced WEE-vuh (/ˈwi.vɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “weaver” in a sentence?
Here is “weaver” used in a sentence: “The weaver worked the loom late into the night.”
What part of speech is “weaver”?
“Weaver” is a noun.
Is “weaver” a common word?
“Weaver” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “weaver” have?
“Weaver” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who weaves cloth, especially as an occupation.
What is the difference between a weaver and a spinner?
A weaver is a person who weaves cloth on a loom, especially as an occupation, while a spinner is someone who twists fibers into thread or yarn. Spinning typically happens before weaving, since weavers need spun thread to create fabric.
Why is a bird called a weaver?
A weaver bird gets its name from its skill in building elaborately woven nests, a behavior that resembles the craft of a human cloth weaver. Weaver birds are known for this intricate nest-building rather than any connection to textile production.
Is weaver used for both the occupation and the bird without confusion?
Yes, context usually makes the meaning clear, since "weaver" applied to a person refers to textile work while "weaver bird" or a wildlife context signals the bird species. The two senses share the underlying idea of weaving but describe different subjects.

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