Standard Lemma guide

frill

noun · verb · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /fɹɪl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪl
  • homophone: thrill (th-fronting)
  • CMU ARPABET: F R IH1 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A strip of pleated fabric or paper used as decoration or trim.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1777, Samuel Jackson Pratt (as Courtney Melmoth), Liberal Opinions, upon Animals, Man, and Providence, London: G. Robinson and J. Bew, Volume 5, Chapter 114, p. 163, [...] one of her husband Jeffery’s shirts (with frills to the bosom) [...]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flounce, furbelow, ruffle

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A substance or material on the edge of something, resembling such a strip of fabric.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A wrinkled edge to a film.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: arts, hobbies, lifestyle, photography

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Something extraneous or not essential; something purely for show or effect; a luxury.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The relatively extensive margin seen on the back of the heads of reptiles, with either a bony support or a cartilaginous one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, natural-sciences, zoology

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: neck frill

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Synonym of armilla.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, mycology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: armilla

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To make into a frill.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To become wrinkled.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To provide or decorate with a frill or frills; to turn back in crimped plaits.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • 1863, Charles Dickens, Mrs. Lirriper’s Lodgings, Chapter 4, in All the Year Round, Volume 10, Extra Christmas Number, 3 December, 1863, p. 35, Mrs. Sandham, formerly Kate Barford, is working at a baby’s frock, and asking now and then the advice of her sister, who is frilling a little cap.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To shake or shiver as with cold (with reference to a hawk).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete

Topics: falconry, hobbies, hunting, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To cry (with reference to a bird of prey).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive, obsolete

Topics: falconry, hobbies, hunting, lifestyle

Examples

  • 1688, Randle Holme, The Academy of Armory, Chester: for the author, Book 2, Chapter 13, “Of the Voices of Birds,” p. 310, The Eagle Frilleth, or Scriketh The Hawk, as Falcon, Gawshawk, and all such Birds of Prey, cryeth, peepeth, or frilleth.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

ornamental objects of no great value

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: folderal, falderol, gimcrackery, gimcrack, nonsense, trumpery

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decoration, ornament, ornamentation

13

noun

Meaning 13

a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flounce, ruffle, furbelow

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: adornment

Narrower terms: goffer, gauffer, jabot, peplum

14

noun

Meaning 14

an external body part consisting of feathers or hair about the neck of a bird or other animal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ruff

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: external body part

15

noun

Meaning 15

(paleontology) a bony plate that curves upward behind the skull of many ceratopsian dinosaurs

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: plate

History

Etymology

Of uncertain origin.

From Old French friller.

Across languages

Translations

42 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: набор (nabor) — pleated material used as decoration
  • Bulgarian: волан (volan) — pleated material used as decoration
  • Czech: nabírání — pleated material used as decoration
  • Czech: kanýr — pleated material used as decoration
  • Czech: volánek — pleated material used as decoration
  • Czech: zřasení — pleated material used as decoration
  • Finnish: röyhelö — pleated material used as decoration
  • French: froufrou — pleated material used as decoration
  • French: ruche — pleated material used as decoration
  • French: volant — pleated material used as decoration
  • German: Rüsche — pleated material used as decoration
  • German: Krause — pleated material used as decoration
  • Hungarian: fodor — pleated material used as decoration
  • Italian: balza — pleated material used as decoration
  • Italian: gala — pleated material used as decoration
  • Japanese: フリル (furiru) — pleated material used as decoration
  • Māori: pōtete — pleated material used as decoration
  • Māori: pōtētete — pleated material used as decoration
  • Polish: falbanka — pleated material used as decoration
  • Polish: falbana — pleated material used as decoration
  • Portuguese: babado — pleated material used as decoration
  • Portuguese: folho — pleated material used as decoration
  • Russian: обо́рка (obórka) — pleated material used as decoration
  • Russian: жабо́ (žabó) — pleated material used as decoration
  • Spanish: volante — pleated material used as decoration
  • Swedish: volang — pleated material used as decoration
  • Swedish: rynk — pleated material used as decoration
  • Finnish: kihara — wrinkled edge
  • Italian: arricciamento — wrinkled edge
  • Finnish: ylellisyys — luxury
  • Finnish: hienous — luxury
  • Italian: fronzolo — luxury
  • Italian: ninnolo — luxury
  • Russian: ро́скошь (róskošʹ) — luxury
  • Spanish: perifollo — luxury
  • Finnish: kaulus — zoology
  • Finnish: kauluri — zoology
  • French: collerette — zoology
  • Polish: kryza — zoology
  • Bulgarian: надиплям (nadipljam) — to make into a frill
  • Finnish: röyheltää — to make into a frill
  • Finnish: rypistyä — to become wrinkled