tapestry

Everyday

1. A heavy piece of cloth with a picture or pattern made by weaving or sewing coloured threads, hung on a wall. tree →
2. (literary) A rich mixture of many different things: «a tapestry of cultures». tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, the Bayeux Tapestry (actually an embroidery) tells the story of the Norman Conquest and the Battle of Hastings in 1066; castles had tapestries to keep rooms warm and colourful. In writing, «a rich tapestry» describes variety. Phrases: «the Bayeux Tapestry», «woven tapestry», «a rich tapestry of».

Examples

• The Bayeux Tapestry shows the Battle of Hastings. tree →
• The castle walls were covered with old tapestries. tree →
• Tapestries helped keep cold stone rooms warm. tree →
• Our class made a tapestry from scraps of wool. tree →
• London is a rich tapestry of cultures and languages. tree →
• The tapestry shows hunters, dogs and a deer. tree →
• See, I and my maidens have been weaving their figures into this piece of tapestry." tree →

Note

Plural «tapestries» (y → ies). Fact trap: the Bayeux Tapestry is about 70 metres long and is really embroidery (sewn on linen), not woven tapestry. Spelling: tap-es-try.