weave

WEEV/wiːv/

Noun pluralweaves

9 meanings of weave

1
verbtransitive
To make cloth or other things by crossing threads or strips over and under each other.
Like making a fence by passing sticks over and under each other.
They weave bright threads into a soft rug.
She weaves baskets from thin strips of wood.
Note
2
verbintransitive
To move along by turning and twisting from one side to another.
Like a snake moving across the ground.
Motorbikes weave through the crowded city streets.
The runner weaves between the other players.
Similarzigzag, snake, wind, swerve
Note
3
verbtransitive
To make a path by moving in and out or from side to side.
Like drawing a wiggly line between many dots.
The hikers weave a trail between the rocks.
She weaved a path through the busy crowd.
Similarthread, wind
Note
4
verbtransitive
To join things closely together so they become one.
Like mixing two colors of clay until they make one.
Good teachers weave new ideas into old lessons.
The author weaves history and fiction into one story.
Similarblend, integrate, combine, fuse
Note
5
verbtransitive
To create a story or idea in a clever and detailed way.
Like putting puzzle pieces together to make one full picture.
Great storytellers weave myths full of brave heroes.
She weaves wonderful tales for her grandchildren each night.
Similarspin, concoct, invent, fabricate
6
nouncountable
The pattern or method used to make woven cloth.
Like the over-and-under pattern you see in a basket.
This fabric has a tight weave that keeps out the wind.
Different weaves give cloth different textures.
Similartexture
Note
7
nouncountable
Real or fake hair added to someone's own hair to change how they look.
Like clip-on hair that makes your own hair look longer or fuller.
She got a long weave before the wedding.
Many weaves are made from real human hair.
Note
8
verbtransitive
To make a web or cocoon by spinning threads.
Like a spider making its sticky net to catch flies.
Spiders weave silky webs to catch insects.
The caterpillar weaves a cocoon around itself.
Similarspin
9
verbintransitive
To move the head back and forth over and over, often because of stress.
Like rocking from side to side over and over when you feel nervous.
Bored, lonely animals sometimes weave for hours.
The stabled horse weaves when it is left alone too long.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1, 4–8

From Old English wefan, meaning "to weave." It goes back to an ancient root meaning "to weave or braid."

Meanings 2–3, 9

From Middle English weven, meaning "to wander." It probably comes from Old Norse veifa, meaning "to move around or wave."