ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ruffle

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɹəfəɫ// UK //ɹˈʌfəl// ruf·fle

n. a small, soft fold of cloth that hangs from a piece of clothing. It is often used to make a dress or shirt look more decorative.

n. a small, soft pleat or fold of fabric, typically hanging from a garment. Often used as a decorative element in fashion or textile design.


SIMPLE

She added a white ruffle to the bottom of her dress.

CONTEXTUAL

The designer chose to add a delicate ruffle to the neckline of the evening gown to give it a more feminine look.

COMPLEX

While the overall silhouette of the gown was minimalist, the subtle ruffle along the hem provided a necessary contrast that prevented the fabric from appearing too flat.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English ruffelen, perhaps from Old Norse hrufla (“to graze, scratch”) or Middle Low German ruffelen (“to wrinkle, curl”). Further origin unknown. Related to Middle Dutch ruyffelen, German Low German ruffeln. See English ruff.

Idioms1 entry

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