noun
doily
DOY-lee
noun
1
A small decorative mat, usually of lace, linen, or paper, placed under dishes or ornaments.
"A lace doily sat beneath the teapot on the sideboard."
How to Use Doily
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small decorative mat, often lacy, used under plates, vases, or cakes.
Common pairings
a paper doily
a lace doily
Word Forms
doilies plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “doily”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A lace _____ sat beneath the teapot on the sideboard.
Etymology
Named after Doiley, a 17th-century London draper whose surname gave rise to the word.