tapestry

tapestry

noun|TAP-uh-stree
 
What It Means
 
A tapestry is a heavy textile characterized by complicated pictorial designs and used for hangings, curtains, and upholstery. In figurative use, tapestry may refer to anything made up of different things, people, colors, etc.
 
// The walls were adorned with handwoven tapestries.
 
// They enjoyed the rich tapestry of life in the city.

tapestry
noun
tap·;es·;try ;ta-p;-str;
pluraltapestries
Synonyms of tapestry
1
a
: a heavy handwoven reversible textile used for hangings, curtains, and upholstery and characterized by complicated pictorial designs
b
: a nonreversible imitation of tapestry used chiefly for upholstery
c
: embroidery on canvas resembling woven tapestry
needlepoint tapestry
2
: something resembling tapestry (as in complexity or richness of design)
nature's rich tapestry

Examples of tapestry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the lighting inside the mountain is a tapestry of blues, greens and oranges.
—Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 28 July 2025
Back in Lamego’s center, explore its 12th-century castle, peer into the ornate Lamego Cathedral, or wander the Museu de Lamego—a former bishop’s palace housing Flemish tapestries.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
In the process, Cam wove together a tapestry of sounds including folk, country and ethereal pop.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 17 July 2025
The bus ride is a genius tapestry of different registers of voice, which Ellison is an absolute master at managing.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 July 2025

Word History
Etymology
Middle English, modification of Anglo-French tapicerie, from tapit, tapis carpet, hanging, from Greek tap;tion, diminutive of tap;t-, tap;s carpet

First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tapestry was in the 15th century
See more words from the same century
Phrases Containing tapestry
tapestry carpet
Browse Nearby Words
tapestried
tapestry
tapestry beetle
Articles Related to tapestry
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“Tapestry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tapestry. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.

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Kids Definition
tapestry

noun
tap·;es·;try ;tap-;-str;
pluraltapestries
: a heavy cloth that has designs or pictures woven into it and is used especially as a wall hanging
tapestried
-str;d
 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on tapestry
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tapestry

Nglish: Translation of tapestry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tapestry

Last Updated: 2 Aug 2025 - Updated example sentences