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Glite Dictionary
box pleat

box pleat

6.4
Two folds in cloth turned under to form a flat box shape
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : pliegue en caja
  • The dress featured a beautiful box pleat that added volume to the skirt.
  • box pleat skirt

Examples

  • The tailor explained how the box pleat would enhance the fit of the pants.

  • I've seen pockets with a box pleat running down the center.

  • I mean, the synthetic lace and the inverted box pleats.

    27 Dresses (2008)

  • I trimmed it with a box pleat on the bottom which, I think, echoes the chest pleat.

    Blog text (9)

  • I walked into Mainbocher's studio with black shoes, a tan gabardine box pleat skirt with a funny-looking little jacket, and a silly little black hat.

    Academic text (2014)

  • She chose a box pleat design for her new curtains to create a crisp and tailored look.

Synonyms

pleat
vsbox pleat
11 3.9

A narrow fold in fabric that adds shape to clothing

is a specific flat double fold formed by folding material under both sides
pleating
vsbox pleat
2 5.0

Folding fabric into narrow, even folds for clothes or curtains

is the finished flat double fold made by those folding actions

How Narrow

knife pleat
  • Specialized
6.3
inverted pleat
  • Specialized
6.9
box pleat
  • Specialized
6.4
to pleat
13 4.4

Surface Forms

box pleat singular
box pleats plural

Morphology

box + pleat

The compound names a type of pleat that has a box-like appearance, so its meaning is directly built from 'box' (box-like shape) + 'pleat' (a fold). This descriptive, form-based composition is transparent and predictable — a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The noun box pleat comes from how cloth is folded: a pleat is a fold made by turning the fabric under on both sides so the front looks like a flat box. So a box pleat is the square fold that makes skirts and uniforms fuller while keeping a neat shape.