drape

UK: /ˈdreɪp/ US: /dreɪp/ ,(drāp)

Inflections of 'drape' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

drapes

v 3rd person singular

draping

v pres p

draped

v past

draped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

drape /dreɪp/   v. [~ + object] , draped, drap•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to cover or hang with cloth, esp. in graceful folds:
   pictures draped with ribbons.
2. to adjust (fabric, etc.) into graceful folds:
   carefully draped the fabric over the lectern.
3. to arrange, hang, or let fall carelessly:
   to drape a towel on a doorknob.

n. [countable]

4. Furniture a curtain, usually of heavy fabric and long length, esp. one of a pair drawn open and shut across or hung at the sides of a window.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

drape  (drāp), v., draped, drap•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to cover or hang with cloth or other fabric, esp. in graceful folds;
   adorn with drapery.
2. to adjust (curtains, clothes, etc.) into graceful folds, attractive lines, etc.
3. to arrange, hang, or let fall carelessly:
   Don't drape your feet over the chair!
4. Medicine, Surgery to place cloth so as to surround (a part to be examined, treated, or operated upon).
5. Building (in reinforced-concrete construction) to hang (reinforcement) in a certain form between two points before pouring the concrete.
6. Heraldry to put a black cravat on (a flagstaff ) as a token of mourning.

v.i. 

7. to hang, fall, or become arranged in folds, as drapery:
   This silk drapes well.

n. 

8. Furniture a curtain or hanging of heavy fabric and usually considerable length, esp. either of a pair for covering a window and drawn open and shut horizontally.
9. Furniture either of a pair of similar curtains extending or draped at the sides of a window, French doors, or the like as decoration.
10. manner or style of hanging:
    the drape of a skirt.

• Middle French draper, derivative of drap cloth (see drab¹)
• late Middle English 1400–50

drap′a•ble, drape′a•ble, adj. 
drap′a•bil′i•ty, drape′a•bil′i•ty, n.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

drape / dreɪp/ verb

1. (transitive) to hang or cover with flexible material or fabric, usually in folds; adorn
2. to hang or arrange or be hung or arranged, esp in folds
3. (transitive) to place casually and loosely; hang

noun

1. (often plural) a cloth or hanging that covers something in folds; drapery
2. the way in which fabric hangs

Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French draper, from drap piece of cloth; see drab¹