frieze
frieze — noun
- friezesingular
- friezesplural
1. a horizontal strip of carved, painted, or sculpted decoration placed high on a w
a horizontal strip of carved, painted, or sculpted decoration placed high on a wall — found around the upper walls of rooms or across the face of a building, positioned near the ceiling or beneath the roofline
The ancient Greek temple had a marble frieze showing gods and warriors in battle.
collocation: marble frieze / carved frieze
A painted frieze of flowers and vines decorated the top of the dining-room walls.
Obi pointed out the carved frieze beneath the roofline showing the town's early history.
Restoration workers carefully cleaned the plaster frieze above the main entrance.
- band
a simpler, more general term for any strip of decoration — less specific than frieze
- molding
a decorative strip of shaped material, usually made of plaster or wood; a molding is typically three-dimensional, while a frieze can be painted on a flat surface
- entablature
the entire horizontal structure supported by columns in classical architecture, of which the frieze is one part
用法筆記
In classical architecture, a frieze is specifically the middle section of the entablature between the architrave and the cornice. In everyday use, the word describes any decorative horizontal band on a wall.
常見錯誤
2. a thick rough woollen cloth with a slightly hairy, raised surface, used especial
a thick rough woollen cloth with a slightly hairy, raised surface, used especially in the past for making warm coats and outer clothing
The shepherds wore heavy frieze cloaks to stay dry on the windswept hills.
collocation: heavy frieze / frieze cloak
Tariq bought a length of coarse frieze from the market to line his winter coat.
The museum has a medieval tunic of natural-grey frieze, rough and thick against the cold.
Paul wore a frieze greatcoat whose thick rough wool blocked the harsh winter wind.
- tweed
a rough woollen cloth with a textured surface, still widely used today — softer than traditional frieze
- melton
a smooth, heavy woollen cloth with a short nap, used for coats — less rough than frieze
- broadcloth
a dense woollen fabric with a smooth finish — not napped like frieze
用法筆記
This sense of frieze is now largely historical or dialectal. The word was commonly used in Scotland and northern England from the 15th to the 19th century. Most modern speakers will only encounter it in historical novels or museum descriptions.