weaving

IPA/ˈwiːvɪŋ/
KK[wˈivɪŋ]IPA/ˈwiːvɪŋ/

weaving — noun

1. the process of making fabric by passing one set of threads over and under anothe

1.nounB1
Definition

the process of making fabric by passing one set of threads over and under another set on a machine known as a loom

Example

Lan learned traditional weaving from her grandmother, who worked on a handloom for forty years.

uncountable noun for the process; hand weaving tradition

The museum has a special room showing the history of weaving in Southeast Asia.

Common collocations
  • hand weaving
  • traditional weaving
  • weaving loom
  • weaving factory
  • weaving technique
  • weaving pattern
Synonyms
  • looming

    refers specifically to weaving on a loom, less common outside textile industry

  • fabric-making

    more general term that also includes knitting and felting

Usage Note

Uncountable — do not use with 'a' or make plural when referring to the activity itself. The related noun 'weave' (countable) refers to the pattern of the threads rather than the process.

Common Mistakes

She learned a weaving from her aunt.
She learned weaving from her aunt.
when referring to the skill or activity, weaving is uncountable and does not take an article.

2. the craft of forming containers or other objects by crossing and twisting long t

2.nounB1
Definition

the craft of forming containers or other objects by crossing and twisting long thin strips of materials such as grass, wood, or paper

Example

Mert took a basket-weaving class at the community centre last summer.

common in compound nouns: basket-weaving

In many villages the women earn extra income by weaving baskets from palm leaves.

Common collocations
  • basket-weaving
  • mat weaving
  • weave from reeds
  • weave from straw
  • traditional weaving techniques
Synonyms
  • plaiting

    focuses on the action of folding three or more strands over one another

  • braiding

    similar to plaiting, often used for hair or rope rather than containers

Usage Note

Uncountable when naming the craft. The verb 'weave' is used transitively with the object being made ('weave a basket') or the material ('weave palm leaves').

3. the skill of blending separate ideas, events, or details into a single effective

3.nounB2
Definition

the skill of blending separate ideas, events, or details into a single effective story, argument, or design

Example

The novel is admired for its clever weaving of historical facts with fictional characters.

figurative use; weaving of [X] with [Y]

Sana's presentation showed a careful weaving of scientific data and personal stories.

Common collocations
  • skilful weaving
  • careful weaving
  • clever weaving
  • weaving together
  • weaving of ideas
Synonyms
  • blending

    suggests smooth mixing without visible seams; less focused on craftsmanship

  • intertwining

    more poetic and complex; suggests elements are deeply connected

  • integration

    more formal; focuses on the result rather than the skill

Antonyms
  • separating

    keeping elements apart rather than combining them

  • fragmenting

    breaking into disconnected pieces, opposite of skillful combination

Grammar Patterns

weaving of + noun

Usage Note

This is the only sense that is figurative. It often appears with the preposition 'of' ('weaving of X and Y') or 'into' ('weave into something'). Subject is typically a story, film, plan, or argument.

Common Mistakes

His speech was a weaving of different topics.
His speech was a skilful weaving of different topics.
this sense sounds unnatural without an evaluative adjective (skilful, clever, careful) that conveys the craftsmanship behind the combination.

4. the action of moving ahead while repeatedly changing direction to get past peopl

4.nounB1
Definition

the action of moving ahead while repeatedly changing direction to get past people, objects, or vehicles

Example

The cyclist's weaving through rush-hour traffic made the driver behind her nervous.

weaving through [obstacle/crowd]

Ezra watched the narrow weaving of the river as it cut through the mountain valley.

Common collocations
  • weaving through traffic
  • weaving between cars
  • weaving in and out
  • weaving path
  • weaving river
Synonyms
  • zigzagging

    suggests sharper, more angular changes of direction

  • swerving

    emphasises sudden sideways movement to avoid a specific obstacle

  • winding

    suggests a gentler, more continuous curve; common for paths and rivers

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

weaving through + noun

weaving between + noun

Usage Note

Uncountable — refers to the style or manner of movement. This sense is commonly used in traffic reports ('weaving in and out of traffic') and descriptions of natural features (rivers, paths).

Common Mistakes

His weave through the crowd was impressive.
His weaving through the crowd was impressive.
the noun form for this sense is weaving (uncountable), not 'weave'.

5. an item that has been created by weaving threads or strips of material, especial

5.nounB1
Definition

an item that has been created by weaving threads or strips of material, especially one used for decoration

Example

The bedroom wall was decorated with a colourful weaving from Guatemala.

countable: a weaving

Christopher bought several traditional weavings to give as gifts to his family.

plural: weavings

Common collocations
  • traditional weaving
  • decorative weaving
  • handwoven weaving
  • colourful weaving
  • Andean weaving
  • woven wall hanging
Synonyms
  • textile

    broader term covering any woven or knitted fabric, not necessarily decorative

  • tapestry

    a specific type of decorative weaving with pictures or designs, usually hung on a wall

Usage Note

This is the only countable sense — it takes 'a' and has a plural form 'weavings'. Senses 1 through 4 are always uncountable. Distinguish from the noun 'weave', which refers to the pattern of the fabric ('a tight weave').

Common Mistakes

She hung a beautiful weaving on the wall.' (correct)
But: ❌ 'The museum had many weaving from different countries.' ✅ 'The museum had many weavings from different countries.' — the plural form is weavings, not weaving.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four terms describe techniques for making fabric or objects from threads or strands, but they differ in method. Weaving crosses one set of threads over another at right angles on a loom, producing flat cloth. Knitting uses a single continuous looped thread and two or more needles, creating stretchy fabric. Braiding (or plaiting) twists three or more strands together diagonally, commonly used for hair, rope, or decorative cords. Looming is a narrower term that refers specifically to operating a loom, whether by hand or machine. A practical difference: if you run your finger across a piece of woven fabric, you can feel the grid of vertical and horizontal threads; knitted fabric has vertical columns of small V-shaped loops instead.

weaving ↗knitting ↗braiding ↗looming ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • weaving loom
  • weaving technique
  • weaving pattern
  • weaving factory
  • weaving tradition

Adverbs

  • traditionally woven
  • intricately woven
  • beautifully woven
  • tightly woven
  • handwoven

Phrases

  • hand weaving
  • basket weaving
  • weaving in and out

Prepositions

  • woven from
  • woven into
  • woven with
  • weaving of
  • weaving through

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

From Old English wefan ('to weave'), which comes from the Proto-Germanic root *webaną ('to weave, to plait'). This root traces further back to the Proto-Indo-European *webh- ('to weave, to plait'), which also gave rise to Greek hyphē ('web') and Sanskrit ubhnāti ('he laces together'). The figurative sense of mentally combining elements appeared in the 14th century, and the movement sense (weaving through obstacles) developed from the physical back-and-forth motion of the shuttle on a loom.