ENGLISH
REFERENCE

weave

v. · n.
US //ˈwiv// UK //wˈiːv// weave
Irregular verb past wove past participle woven
  1. 1 to make fabric (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make cloth or carpets by crossing threads over and under each other on a machine.

    to interlace strands of yarn or thread at right angles to form a fabric or garment.

    Example

    The local people weave beautiful rugs using wool from their own sheep.

    Example

    The artisans continue to weave traditional patterns on wooden looms, preserving techniques that have been passed down through generations.

    Usage

    The past tense is 'wove' and the past participle is 'woven'.
  2. 2 to move in a zigzag (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to move along by turning and twisting to avoid things in your way.

    to move in a winding or zigzag fashion, typically to navigate through obstacles or traffic.

    Example

    The cyclist had to weave through the heavy traffic to get to work on time.

    Example

    The taxi driver managed to weave expertly through the narrow backstreets, avoiding the gridlock on the main boulevard.
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  1. 3 to create a story (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    to put different pieces of information or ideas together to make a complex story.

    to combine various elements, such as plot points or themes, into a complex and unified whole.

    Example

    The author managed to weave several different mysteries into one exciting book.

    Example

    The novelist skillfully weaves historical facts with fictional characters to create a vivid portrait of nineteenth-century London.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is often used metaphorically in literary reviews and academic discussions about storytelling.
  2. 4 pattern of cloth (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the particular way that threads are crossed in a piece of cloth.

    the specific pattern or method of interlacing threads in a fabric.

    Example

    The jacket has a very tight weave that makes it waterproof.

    Example

    The designer chose a loose, breathable weave for the summer collection to ensure maximum comfort in humid climates.
  3. 5 hair extension (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    artificial or real hair that is attached to a person's natural hair to make it look longer or thicker.

    a hairpiece or extensions integrated into a person's natural hair to alter its length, volume, or appearance.

    Example

    She decided to get a weave before the wedding to add some volume to her hair.

    Example

    The stylist spent several hours carefully applying the weave to ensure it blended seamlessly with the client's natural texture.
Etymology 1

From Middle English weven (“to weave”), from Old English wefan (“to weave”), from Proto-West Germanic weban, from Proto-Germanic webaną, from Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to weave, braid”). Cognates Cognate with North Frisian weev, weew, weewe (“to weave”), Saterland Frisian weeuwe (“to weave”), Dutch weven (“to weave”), German weben (“to weave”), Luxembourgish wiewen (“to weave”), Yiddish וועבן (vebn, “to weave”), Danish væve (“to weave”), Faroese veva (“to weave”), Icelandic vefa (“to weave”), Norwegian Bokmål veve (“to weave”), Norwegian Nynorsk veva, veve (“to weave”), Swedish väva (“to weave”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English weven (“to wander”); probably from Old Norse veifa (“move around, wave”), related to Latin vibrare.

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