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tailor

C1
verbnoun

Pronunciation

UK

  • /tˈeɪlə/

US

  • /ˈteɪlər/

Description

A tailor is not just someone who makes clothes, though they certainly can. A tailor is a skilled worker who adjusts clothes to fit you well or creates new pieces made for your body and style. Think of a custom suit made to look good on the person wearing it; that is the mark of a tailor.

The word "tailor" originally referred to someone who cut cloth, from the Old French "tailler," meaning "to cut." Today, though, it means more than just cutting. It suggests care, skill, and making something fit a particular person or purpose. You might say a politician "tailors" a message for different voters, or a chef "tailors" a recipe for dietary needs. In both cases, the idea is the same: changing something so it fits better.

Examples

  1. 1

    Clothing repair

    She took the coat to a tailor to have the sleeves shortened.

  2. 2

    Suit fitting

    The suit was tailored to fit him properly.

  3. 3

    Beginner course

    The course is tailored to beginners, so you don't need any experience.

    • Pattern

      tailor something to + person/situation

      make it fit that person or situation

  4. 4

    Teaching

    Good teachers tailor their lessons to the needs of the class.

  5. 5

    Advertising

    We tailored the ad campaign for young parents.

    • Pattern

      tailor something for + person/group

      make it especially for that person or group

  6. 6

    Business solution

    The company is looking for a tailor-made solution rather than a standard package.

    • Phrase

      tailor-made

      specially designed for a particular purpose

Forms and spellings

4 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • tailornounverb

Forms

  • tailoredpast tenseverbnoun
  • tailoring-ing formverbnoun
  • tailorspluralnounverb