tailoring

UK: /ˈteɪlərɪŋ/ US: (tā′lər ing)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tai•lor•ing  (tā′lər ing), n. 

1. Clothing the business or work of a tailor.
2. Clothing the skill or craftsmanship of a tailor.

• tailor¹ + -ing¹ 1655–65

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tai•lor¹ /ˈteɪlɚ/   n. [countable]

1. one whose occupation is the making, mending, or altering of clothes.

v. 

2. to make by tailor's work: [~ + object]
   to tailor the garment to fit.
   [no object]
   to make a living at tailoring.
3. to adapt so as to adjust to a purpose, need, etc.:
   [~ + object] skilled at tailoring the facts and figures for his own ends.

See -tail-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tai•lor¹  (tā′lər), n. 

1. a person whose occupation is the making, mending, or altering of clothes, esp. suits, coats, and other outer garments.

v.t. 

2. to make by tailor's work.
3. to fashion or adapt to a particular taste, purpose, need, etc.:
   to tailor one's actions to those of another.
4. to fit or furnish with clothing.
5. [Chiefly U.S. Mil.] to make (a uniform) to order;
   cut (a ready-made uniform) so as to cause to fit more snugly;
   taper.

v.i. 

6. to do the work of a tailor.

• Late Latin tāliāre, derivative of Latin tālea a cutting, literally, heel-piece; see tally) + -or -or²
• Anglo-French tailour, Old French tailleor, equivalent. to taill(ier) to cut (
• Middle English (noun, nominal) 1250–1300

tai•lor²  (tā′lər), n. [Brit. Dial.]

1. British Terms a stroke of a bell indicating someone's death;
   knell.

• alteration by folk etymology, etymological of teller

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tailor / ˈteɪlə/ noun

1. a person who makes, repairs, or alters outer garments, esp menswear
   Related adjective(s): sartorial
2. a voracious and active marine food fish, Pomatomus saltator, of Australia with scissor-like teeth

verb

1. to cut or style (material, clothes, etc) to satisfy certain requirements
2. (transitive) to adapt so as to make suitable for something specific
3. (intransitive) to follow the occupation of a tailor

Etymology: 13th Century: from Anglo-Norman taillour, from Old French taillier to cut, from Latin tālea a cutting; related to Greek talis girl of marriageable age