drape

1 of 2

verb

draped; draping

transitive verb

1
: to cover or adorn with or as if with folds of cloth
2
: to cause to hang or stretch out loosely or carelessly
3
: to arrange in flowing lines or folds

intransitive verb

: to become arranged in folds
this silk drapes beautifully
drapability noun
or less commonly drapeability
drapable adjective
or less commonly drapeable

drape

2 of 2

noun

1
: arrangement in or of folds
2
a
: a drapery especially for a window : curtain
b
: a sterile covering used in an operating room
usually used in plural
3
: the cut or hang of clothing
drapey adjective

Examples of drape in a Sentence

Verb We'll drape strings of lights between the trees for the party. the town hall was draped in bunting for the annual Fourth of July festivities Noun we hung drapes in the living room to match the new color scheme
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The plunging neckline of Lopez’s dress also featured a fabric draping element with the jeweled embellishments. Julia Teti, WWD, 18 Nov. 2024 Swift wore a black shirt with a red skirt and had a jacket draped over her shoulders. Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 10 Nov. 2024
Noun
That includes disposable instruments, plastic drapes, syringes, tubing, bandages and anything that might be contaminated with bodily fluids. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 Guests were greeted with craft cocktails by Johnnie Walker Blue Label, which were sipped in the moody space adorned with black velvet drapes and chandelier-like art installations. Eliseé Browchuk, Vogue, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for drape 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably back-formation from drapery

First Known Use

Verb

1847, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of drape was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near drape

Cite this Entry

“Drape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drape. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

drape

1 of 2 noun
1
plural : drapery sense 2
2
: arrangement in or of folds
3
: the cut or hang of clothing

drape

2 of 2 verb
draped; draping
1
: to cover or decorate with or as if with folds of cloth
2
: to arrange in flowing lines or folds
a beautifully draped satin dress

Medical Definition

drape

1 of 2 transitive verb
draped; draping
: to shroud or enclose with surgical drapes

drape

2 of 2 noun
: a sterile covering used in an operating room
usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on drape

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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