plaid

plaid — noun

1. a design of crossing coloured lines that form squares on cloth, or fabric made w

1.nounB2
Definition

a design of crossing coloured lines that form squares on cloth, or fabric made with this design.

Example

Nina bought a red plaid skirt for the autumn school concert.

plaid + clothing noun

In the old cabin, the sofa was covered in soft green plaid.

in plaid for material or pattern

Common collocations
  • plaid shirt
  • plaid skirt
  • plaid blanket
  • plaid curtains
  • in plaid
Synonyms
  • tartan

    a Scottish kind of plaid, often linked with clans or kilts

  • check

    a more general word for a square-crossed pattern, especially in British English

  • gingham

    a light cotton cloth with even checks; much narrower than plaid

Antonyms
  • plain

    used for cloth with one colour or with no pattern

Grammar Patterns

plaid + clothing noun

in plaid

Usage Note

Usually used before another noun in everyday descriptions, as in 'plaid shirt' or 'plaid skirt'. Distinguish from sense 2, which names a specific piece of Scottish clothing.

Common Mistakes

She wore a shirt plaid.
She wore a plaid shirt.
in everyday use, 'plaid' usually comes before the clothing noun.
The curtains are in a plaid.
The curtains are in plaid.
for the general pattern or material, 'plaid' is usually uncountable.

2. a wool cloth that hangs across one shoulder in older Scottish clothing.

2.nounC2
Definition

a wool cloth that hangs across one shoulder in older Scottish clothing.

Example

The guide adjusted his plaid before the Scottish dance began.

a plaid = shoulder cloth

In the museum, a plaid hung beside a kilt in the Scottish dress case.

cultural clothing context

Common collocations
  • wear a plaid
  • drape a plaid
  • Highland plaid
  • wool plaid
Synonyms
  • shawl

    a broad word for a cloth worn around the shoulders; not specifically Scottish

  • wrap

    a general word for a piece of cloth worn over the shoulders

Grammar Patterns

a plaid

wear a plaid over one shoulder

Usage Note

Usually appears with verbs like 'wear', 'drape', or 'adjust', and the context is Scottish dress. Distinguish from sense 1, which means the pattern or the cloth itself.

Common Mistakes

He wore plaid over one shoulder.
He wore a plaid over one shoulder.
the garment sense is countable.
The dancer put the plaid on his neck.
The dancer put the plaid over his shoulder.
this garment is worn across the shoulder area.

Word family

  • plaided
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For fabric patterns, 'plaid' is a broad word, especially in American English, for crossed coloured lines making squares. 'Tartan' is narrower: it refers to Scottish plaid patterns and often suggests clans, kilts, or Highland dress. 'Check' is more general and often sounds more British, especially for neat repeated squares in shirts or coats. 'Gingham' is narrower still, naming a light cotton cloth with even-sized checks, common in tablecloths, school dresses, and summer shirts. So a kilt is usually tartan, a picnic cloth may be gingham, and a jacket in a US shop may simply be called plaid.

plaid ↗tartan ↗check ↗gingham

Etymology

Scottish GaelicEnglish

English took 'plaid' from Scottish Gaelic 'plaide', a word for a blanket or cloak. It first named the long tartan cloth worn with Highland dress, and English later extended it to the checked pattern and to cloth made with that pattern.