frill

frill — noun

1. a long strip of fabric that has been pleated or gathered on one side and then st

1.名詞B1
釋義

a long strip of fabric that has been pleated or gathered on one side and then stitched along a garment's border to create an ornamental finish

例句

Iris chose a blue dress with white frills around the collar for her graduation.

frills around + collar (clothing location)

The old curtains had frills that Eri's grandmother had sewn by hand decades ago.

同義詞
  • ruffle

    a gathered trim that can be looser and wider than a frill, often used on blouses and pillows

  • flounce

    a wide strip of fabric gathered at the top, typically longer and more dramatic than a frill

  • trim

    a more general word for any decorative edging, not necessarily gathered or pleated

用法筆記

Often used in the plural (frills) when describing multiple rows or an overall decorative style. When referring to one specific trim strip, the singular is natural (a frill of lace).

常見錯誤

❌She wore a frill on her skirt made of leather strips.
✅She wore a skirt with frills along the hem.
💡A frill is specifically a gathered fabric trim, not any kind of decoration or strip.
❌The frill of the curtain was torn, so I replaced the whole curtain.
✅The frill of the curtain was torn, so I sewed a new lace trim along the edge.
💡A damaged frill can be repaired or replaced without replacing the entire item.

2. additional features or services that make a product or experience more enjoyable

2.名詞B2
釋義

additional features or services that make a product or experience more enjoyable but are not strictly necessary — commonly used in the expression 'no frills' to describe a basic, affordable version without costly extras

例句

The budget airline offers a no-frills service where meals and seat selection cost extra.

no-frills as compound adjective + service

Christopher wanted a car with all the frills, such as leather seats and a sunroof.

all the frills + such as [examples]

同義詞
  • extras

    a neutral term for optional additions, less colourful than 'frills'

  • bells and whistles

    an informal idiom for attractive but non-essential features, more vivid and colloquial

  • luxuries

    implies higher cost and indulgence, a stronger word than 'frills'

反義詞
  • essentials

    the basic, necessary features that frills are added to

用法筆記

Almost always appears in the plural (frills) in this sense. The compound 'no-frills' (with a hyphen) is commonly used as an adjective before a noun, especially in travel, hospitality, and retail contexts.

常見錯誤

❌This phone has many frills, like a camera and a battery.
✅This phone has many frills, like a waterproof case and wireless charging.
💡Essential features (camera, battery) are not frills; frills are the optional extras beyond the basics.
❌The restaurant serves no-frills food, which means the dishes have no seasoning.
✅The restaurant serves no-frills food, which means simple dishes without expensive ingredients or fancy presentation.
💡'No frills' means simple and unadorned, not poor quality or lacking essential elements.

3. a ring of longer hair, feathers, or loose skin around the neck of some animals,

3.名詞C1
釋義

a ring of longer hair, feathers, or loose skin around the neck of some animals, such as lizards, birds, or mammals, often used for display or protection

例句

The frill of the frilled-neck lizard opens up like a large umbrella when the animal feels threatened.

frill opens / expands (physical description of animal behaviour)

Male pigeons puff out the iridescent frill around their necks to attract a mate.

同義詞
  • ruff

    a more specific term for a projecting collar of feathers or fur; 'ruff' and 'frill' are often used interchangeably in zoology

用法筆記

This sense is most commonly encountered in descriptions of reptiles (the frilled-neck lizard) and birds. In mammals it refers to a ruff of fur, as seen in some breeds of dogs or cats.

frill — verb