English Reference
Noun

tapestry

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈtæpəstɹi/ UK /tˈæpəstɹˌi/ ta·pes·try UK spelling tapestries, tapestry's, tapestrying

n.a heavy cloth with colorful pictures or patterns woven into it, often hung on a wall. People also use this word to describe a complex mix of different things.

n.a heavy textile fabric with decorative designs formed by weaving colored weft threads. Frequently used metaphorically to describe a complex or multifaceted situation or history.


SIMPLE

A beautiful tapestry hangs on the castle wall.

CONTEXTUAL

The museum displays a medieval tapestry that depicts a famous battle in great detail.

COMPLEX

The novel presents a rich tapestry of immigrant life, weaving together the disparate stories of three families across several generations to create a unified narrative of the city.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' when used in a figurative sense ('a tapestry of').

The nearly 230-foot long Bayeux Tapestry is back in England for the first time in 900 years.

NPR· 9 Sept 2026

There is even an image of a bear-baiting scene in the lower margin of the Bayeux Tapestry.

Phys.org· 8 Sept 2026

From Middle English tapestrie, from Old French tapisserie (“tapestry”), from Ancient Greek τάπης (tápēs), from an Iranian source.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Ancient Greek τάπης
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated