1 C1 neutral
To separate a part of a room or space by hanging fabric across it.
"They draped off one corner of the studio to create a small changing area."
separable
drape off
C1 neutral separable transitive
To separate or cover an area using a piece of fabric or cloth hung loosely.
In plain English
To use a piece of cloth to cover something or separate one part of a room from another.
What does "drape off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To cover an object by loosely hanging cloth over it.
"The artist draped off the sculpture with a white cloth before the unveiling."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To hang fabric in a drooping way so that it closes off or covers something.
Actually means
To use a piece of cloth to cover something or separate one part of a room from another.
Usage tip
Relatively rare and mainly used in interior design, theatrical, or medical contexts. 'Curtain off' is more commonly used in everyday speech for the same meaning.
Words that pair with "drape off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
corner area section window stage bed
How to conjugate "drape off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
drape off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
drapes off
he/she/it
Past simple
draped off
yesterday
Past participle
draped off
have + pp
-ing form
draping off
continuous
Hear "drape off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "drape off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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