Plaid: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically refers to fabric patterns with stripes of different widths and colors crossing each other. Commonly used in fashion and interior design.

• He wore a plaid shirt to the party
• The couch was covered in a plaid blanket

Specific to Scottish culture, tartan is a pattern consisting of crisscrossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colors. It often represents a particular Scottish clan.

• He proudly wore his family's tartan kilt
• The bagpipes were decorated with tartan ribbons

Describes a pattern with squares of alternating colors, often seen in racing flags, tablecloths, and certain types of floors. Can also imply an inconsistent or troubled history.

• The diner had a classic checkered floor
• His career had a checkered past, filled with ups and downs

Refers to lines or paths that cross each other repeatedly, forming a lattice or grid. Used in various contexts, including descriptions of roads, scars, and detailed patterns.

• The hiking trails crisscrossed through the forest
• Her notebook was crisscrossed with notes and doodles

Commonly used to describe fabric with a pattern of squares and lines, often associated with traditional Scottish attire.

• He wore a cozy plaid shirt to the campfire
• The scarf had a distinctive red and green plaid pattern

Specifically refers to traditional Scottish patterns often signifying different clans, used particularly in kilts and ceremonial attire.

• The wedding featured traditional outfits made of tartan cloth
• Each Scottish clan has its own distinct tartan cloth

Refers to any fabric with a checkerboard pattern, which can be used for a variety of casual or formal items.

• The picnic blanket was a cheerful checkered material
• Her apron was made of blue and white checkered material

Describes fabric with intersecting lines forming a grid-like pattern, often used in creative or trendy contexts.

• The designer included crisscrossed fabric in the new fashion line
• He admired the intricate crisscrossed fabric of the curtains