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Glite Dictionary
to plicate

to plicate

9.9
To fold cloth or paper into small, even folds
  • verb
  • /ˈplaɪkeɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plegar
  • She learned to plicate the paper into intricate designs for origami.

Examples

  • To make the dress more form-fitting, I need to plicate the material at the waist.

  • The tailor will plicate the fabric to create beautiful drapes.

  • Yeah, it's com plicated.

    Four (2011)

  • The ATFL, CFL, and capsule are plicated (stitched in a manner that results in shortening).

    Blog text (8)

Synonyms

to pleat
vsto plicate
13 4.4

To fold fabric into narrow even folds to shape clothing

is broader, applying to any material rather than only fabric and clothing

Antonyms

to unfold
39 1.3

Open something that is folded so it becomes flat

How Folded

to plicate
  • Specialized
9.9
to pleat
13 4.4
to fold
220 1.0
to crease
18 2.3

Surface Forms

plicate infinitive
plicated past
plicated past participle
plicating present participle
plicates third person singular

Morphology

plicate = plic + ate

The combining form 'plic-' (meaning 'fold') is not a standalone English word, so although the verb-forming suffix '-ate' signals 'to make/do', the base is obscure to average learners and the relation is only partly guessable from other -plicate verbs.

Etymology

The word plicate comes from the Latin verb plicare, which means 'to fold'. You can see the same root in words like duplicate and replicate, and that helps you remember that to plicate something is to fold it into pleats.