embroidery

embroidery — noun

1. patterns or pictures made by sewing coloured threads onto fabric, usually to mak

1.nounB1
Definition

patterns or pictures made by sewing coloured threads onto fabric, usually to make the cloth more attractive or to show skill.

Example

Harper bought a linen tablecloth with beautiful floral embroidery at the weekend market.

collocation: floral embroidery

The traditional dress featured delicate gold embroidery around the neckline and sleeves.

Common collocations
  • floral embroidery
  • silk embroidery
  • gold embroidery
  • hand embroidery
  • intricate embroidery
  • embroidery pattern
Synonyms
  • needlework

    broader term that also includes knitting and crochet

  • stitching

    more general; refers to any sewn stitches, not necessarily decorative

  • tapestry

    refers to a specific heavy embroidered wall-hanging with a picture or scene

Grammar Patterns

embroidery + on [fabric/item]

a piece of embroidery

Usage Note

Often used as an uncountable noun in this sense. To refer to one item, use 'a piece of embroidery' or 'an embroidered [item]' rather than 'an embroidery.'

Common Mistakes

She made a beautiful embroidery for the competition.
She made a beautiful piece of embroidery for the competition.
'Embroidery' is uncountable in standard use; 'a piece of embroidery' is the natural countable form.

2. the skill or hobby of decorating cloth with needle and coloured thread by sewing

2.nounB1
Definition

the skill or hobby of decorating cloth with needle and coloured thread by sewing patterns onto it.

Example

Yumi learned embroidery from her aunt, who had done the craft for over forty years.

collocation: learn / do embroidery

Élise spends most weekends doing embroidery while listening to audiobooks.

Common collocations
  • do embroidery
  • learn embroidery
  • practise embroidery
  • teach embroidery
  • embroidery class
  • embroidery workshop
Synonyms
  • needlecraft

    a more formal term covering all needle-based crafts

  • sewing

    broader term that includes garment-making, not just decoration

Grammar Patterns

do + embroidery

learn + embroidery

take up + embroidery

Common Mistakes

I like to embroideries in my free time.
I like to do embroidery in my free time.
The activity sense is uncountable; use 'do embroidery' or 'practise embroidery.'

3. the practice of adding imaginary or overstated details to a story to make it mor

3.nounC1
Definition

the practice of adding imaginary or overstated details to a story to make it more interesting, entertaining, or dramatic.

Example

The journalist's report contained some embroidery, but the main facts were accurate.

figurative: contained some embroidery

Tamar smiled at her grandfather's fishing story, knowing it had a little embroidery.

Common collocations
  • with some embroidery
  • a little embroidery
  • a fair amount of embroidery
Synonyms
Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

with + embroidery

some + embroidery

a little + embroidery

Usage Note

Informal and often slightly critical — implies the speaker doubts the truth of the added details. More neutral alternatives include 'embellishment' (formal) or 'exaggeration' (different nuance).

Common Mistakes

She added some embroideries to the story.
She added some embroidery to the story.
The figurative sense remains uncountable; avoid the plural form 'embroideries' here.

Word family

  • embroider
    verbB1
  • embroidered
    adjectiveB1
  • embroiderer
    nounC1
  • embroideress
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Embroidery specifically refers to decorative patterns sewn with coloured thread onto an existing piece of fabric — it is an embellishment on top of the cloth. Needlework is a much broader term that covers any craft performed with a needle, including knitting and crochet. Stitching is the most general of the group and can refer to the plain sewn seams that hold clothes together, not just decorative work. Tapestry is a particular kind of heavy embroidery that covers the entire surface of a fabric, often depicting a scene or picture and hung on a wall. For example, a cushion cover with a few embroidered flowers is 'embroidery,' but a large woven wall-hanging showing a battle scene is a 'tapestry.'

embroidery ↗needleworkstitchingtapestry

Common collocations

Nouns

  • embroidery thread
  • embroidery design
  • embroidery pattern
  • embroidery work
  • embroidery hoop
  • embroidery needle

Adverbs

Phrases

  • hand embroidery
  • machine embroidery
  • piece of embroidery

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld FrankishAnglo-FrenchEnglish

The word 'embroidery' entered English from Anglo-French 'embrouderie' around the 14th century. The verb 'embroider' came from 'en-' (into) + 'brouder' (to embroider), which traced back to an Old Frankish word 'brod' meaning 'needle' or 'spike.' The figurative meaning — adding imaginary details to a story — first appeared in the 17th century, drawing on the idea of decorating or ornamenting something plain.