bordar

Senses

1. 1.

   to embroider

   to decorate fabric with needlework or stitched designs

2. 2.

   to embellish, to elaborate

   to add extra details or ornaments to something (figurative)

Examples

• "Minha avó bordava toalhas de mesa lindas."

  My grandmother used to embroider beautiful tablecloths.

• "Ela borda flores nos vestidos que faz para vender."

  She embroiders flowers on the dresses she makes to sell.

• "Não precisa bordar tanto a história, só conta o que aconteceu."

  You don't need to embellish the story so much, just tell what happened.

Usage

Regular -ar verb. The literal meaning refers to needlework and embroidery. The figurative sense means to exaggerate or add unnecessary details to a story or explanation. Common phrase: "bordar à mão" (to hand-embroider).