frill
1 of 2verb
ˈfril 
frilled; frilling; frills
transitive verb
: to provide or decorate with a frill
frill
2 of 2noun
1
a
: a gathered, pleated, or bias-cut fabric edging used on clothing
b
: a strip of paper curled at one end and rolled to be slipped over the bone end (as of a chop) in serving
2
: a ruff of hair or feathers or a bony or cartilaginous projection about the neck of an animal
3
a
: affectation, air —usually used in plural
intellectual frills and fustian
Joseph Epstein
Joseph Epstein b
: something decorative or useful and desirable but not essential : luxury
frilly
ˈfri-lē
adjective 
Synonyms
Noun
- flounce
- furbelow
- ruffle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The dress had frills around the hem and sleeves. He likes plain food without any frills.
Recent Examples on the Web Gabrielle Korn, refinery29.com, 13 Feb. 2020 Bound in a pale pink casing, the catalog comprises two mint green volumes that walk the reader through the history and modern applications of camp in all its feathered and frilled glory. Steff Yotka, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2019 Town & Country reported the ivory taffeta dress was embroidered with sequins, frilled lace and 10,000 pearls. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 30 July 2018 Summer has officially arrived in that terracotta Temperley London dress, with plunging neckline, ruffled skirt and frilled short sleeves. Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, 3 July 2018 At separate ends of town, two buxom madams and their bevies of painted, frilled and scandalously clad ladies welcomed miners and threw lavish parties. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 16 June 2018 For the women of Ocean’s 8, the objective was to steal the world’s attention: Rihanna thrilling and frilling in Givenchy, Sarah Paulson bold in acidic chartreuse from Prada, Awkwafina a caped goddess in Reem Acra. Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 11 June 2018 Xavier's head coaching job has never been more attractive and brings with it frills like updates facilities, a great on-campus gym, one of college basketball's power conferences and an enviable TV deal. Patrick Brennan, Cincinnati.com, 27 Mar. 2018 There’s a masculinity that’s barely detectable but nonetheless present — in the stiff leather of a miniskirt, say, or the strictness of a black pantsuit worn with a pale pink camisole that frilled in the front. Cathy Horyn, The Cut, 29 Sep. 2017 New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022 Oddly, for such a modernizer, Michele’s taste tends toward the baroque, or even the rococo—the man has seemingly never encountered a frill or furbelow that displeased him—and his collections are littered with vintage references. Maya Singer, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2022 So, perhaps not the ideal choice for those who prefer their Shakespeare served frill-free. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Lace up your size 17 shoes and frill that ruff around your neck, because the Killer Klowns From Outer Space are back. Keith Langston, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2022 The Chair Zero, here, is a backpacking frill that packs an incredible weight-to-comfort ratio. Kassondra Cloos, Outside Online, 24 May 2017 Ruffles come in all sizes and levels of, well, frill. Eva Thomas, PEOPLE.com, 15 May 2022 Amazon’s no-frill, low-wage, high-turnover labor model is beginning to show signs of stress. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 20 June 2022 For their tennis socks, one set glows in the dark, while the other plays as pretty-in-pink Paris frill. Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 8 June 2022 See More
Verb
The collection, which will surely be talked about as the best of the entire week, was an unflinching reminder that a serious depth of femininity — the frilled, bedazzled, artistic kind — should never be mistaken for weakness. Gabrielle Korn, refinery29.com, 13 Feb. 2020 Bound in a pale pink casing, the catalog comprises two mint green volumes that walk the reader through the history and modern applications of camp in all its feathered and frilled glory. Steff Yotka, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2019 Town & Country reported the ivory taffeta dress was embroidered with sequins, frilled lace and 10,000 pearls. Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 30 July 2018 Summer has officially arrived in that terracotta Temperley London dress, with plunging neckline, ruffled skirt and frilled short sleeves. Lucy Wood, Marie Claire, 3 July 2018 At separate ends of town, two buxom madams and their bevies of painted, frilled and scandalously clad ladies welcomed miners and threw lavish parties. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, 16 June 2018 For the women of Ocean’s 8, the objective was to steal the world’s attention: Rihanna thrilling and frilling in Givenchy, Sarah Paulson bold in acidic chartreuse from Prada, Awkwafina a caped goddess in Reem Acra. Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 11 June 2018 Xavier's head coaching job has never been more attractive and brings with it frills like updates facilities, a great on-campus gym, one of college basketball's power conferences and an enviable TV deal. Patrick Brennan, Cincinnati.com, 27 Mar. 2018 There’s a masculinity that’s barely detectable but nonetheless present — in the stiff leather of a miniskirt, say, or the strictness of a black pantsuit worn with a pale pink camisole that frilled in the front. Cathy Horyn, The Cut, 29 Sep. 2017 Noun
While nostalgia may be a factor for many, some are more recently initiated fans of frill. New York Times, 16 Aug. 2022 Oddly, for such a modernizer, Michele’s taste tends toward the baroque, or even the rococo—the man has seemingly never encountered a frill or furbelow that displeased him—and his collections are littered with vintage references. Maya Singer, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2022 So, perhaps not the ideal choice for those who prefer their Shakespeare served frill-free. Charles Isherwood, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Lace up your size 17 shoes and frill that ruff around your neck, because the Killer Klowns From Outer Space are back. Keith Langston, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2022 The Chair Zero, here, is a backpacking frill that packs an incredible weight-to-comfort ratio. Kassondra Cloos, Outside Online, 24 May 2017 Ruffles come in all sizes and levels of, well, frill. Eva Thomas, PEOPLE.com, 15 May 2022 Amazon’s no-frill, low-wage, high-turnover labor model is beginning to show signs of stress. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 20 June 2022 For their tennis socks, one set glows in the dark, while the other plays as pretty-in-pink Paris frill. Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 8 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
perhaps from Dutch dialect (Brabant) frul ribbon bow, trifle
First Known Use
Verb
1574, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
frill
noun
ˈfril
1
: ruffle entry 2
2
: something added mostly for show
The food was plain without any frills.
frilled
verb
as in fringed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fringed
- embroidered
- feathered
- flounced
- ribboned
- braided
- filigreed
- wreathed
- filleted
- garlanded
- swagged
- gilt
- appliquéd
- gilded
- laced
- hung
- painted
- jeweled
- chased
- figured
- bossed
- hanged
- pearled
- jewelled
- freshened
- brightened
- furbelowed
- ornamented
- gemmed
- accessorized
- adorned
- draped
- embellished
- smartened
- bedizened
- decorated
- trapped
- embossed
- caparisoned
- festooned
- diamonded
- trimmed
- garnished
- decked
- bedecked
- blazoned
- dressed up
- spruced (up)
- redecorated
- impearled
- tricked (out)
- graced
- dressed
- beautified
- enriched
- gussied up
- fancified
- redid
- arrayed
- dolled up
- fancied up
- emblazed
- did up
- did
- glitzed (up)
- prettied (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- scarred
- disfigured
- spoiled
- spoilt
- defaced
- simplified
- denuded
- streamlined
- stripped
- exposed
- blemished
- bared
- marred
- revealed
- displayed
- uncovered
- dismantled
- divested
- stript
- uglified
- takhaar
- takhtadjies
- Takhtadjy
- Taki-Taki
- Takilman
- takilmans
- takin
- taking
- taking (away)
- taking a hike
- taking a powder
- taking aback
- taking account of
- taking after
- taking against
- taking an axe to
- taking apart
- taking away
- taking back
- taking by surprise
- taking care of
- taking down
- taking effect
- taking exception
- taking for