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weave (wēv)
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v. wove (wōv), wo·ven (wōvən), weav·ing, weaves
v.tr.
1.
a. To make (cloth) by interlacing the threads of the weft and the warp on a loom.
b. To interlace (threads, for example) into cloth.
2. To construct by interlacing or interweaving strips or strands of material: weave a basket.
3.
a. To interweave or combine (elements) into a complex whole: wove the incidents into a story.
b. To contrive (something complex or elaborate) in this way: weave a tale.
4. To introduce (another element) into a complex whole; work in: wove folk tunes into the symphony.
5. To attach hair extensions to (hair).
6. To spin (a web, for example).
7. past tense & past participle often weaved To make (a path or way) by winding in and out or from side to side: weaved our way through the heavy traffic.
v.intr.
1.
a. To engage in weaving; make cloth.
b. To work at a loom.
2. past tense and past participle often weaved To move in and out or sway from side to side.
n.
1. The pattern, method of weaving, or construction of a fabric: a twill weave; a loose weave.
2. A hairstyle in which hair extensions are attached to existing strands of hair.
[Middle English weven, from Old English wefan; see webh- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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