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Glite Dictionary
drapability

drapability

7.5
How a piece of cloth hangs and makes smooth, graceful folds
  • noun
  • /ˈdræpəˌbɪlɪti/
  • Specialized
translation icon : caída
  • A fabric's drapability is crucial when making elegant clothing that needs to hang beautifully.

Examples

  • The different types of weave determine the drapability, cost, wetability, and stiffness of the cloth (30).

    Academic text (1993)

  • The designer selected fabrics known for their excellent drapability to create a flowing evening gown.

  • These materials were chosen because of their good drapability and wettability (18, 27).

    Academic text (1993)

  • The tailor explained that the drapability of the material would significantly enhance the dress's overall look.

Synonyms

drape
vsdrapability
9 4.0

The way cloth hangs in loose soft folds

is the fabric quality that allows smooth flow and graceful folds
hang
vsdrapability
2 7.1

The way a piece of clothing falls on the body

focuses on the underlying material quality that produces smooth flow and folds

Antonyms

stiffness
13 3.9

A condition when parts of the body or objects are hard to move, often causing pain

rigidity
  • Specialized
3 6.0

Not able to bend or change shape easily

How Drapable

fluidity
2 4.6
drapability
  • Specialized
7.5
body
98 6.8
stiffness
13 3.9

Surface Forms

drapability singular
drapabilities plural

Morphology

drapability = drapable (transparent) = drape + able + ity

The noun is formed regularly from the adjective 'drapable' with the suffix '-ity', and the meaning follows transparently from the base.

Etymology

Drapability comes from drape, which means 'to hang cloth so it makes soft folds', and the ending -ability, meaning 'the quality of being'. So, drapability is the quality of a fabric that lets it hang and form graceful folds, like silk falling smoothly over a chair.