pleat has definitions from the field of clothing
1
[ noun ] (clothing) any of various types of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself and then pressing or stitching into shape

Synonyms

plait

Used in print

(Dolores Hitchens, Footsteps in the Night....)

She was wearing a brown cotton dress , cut across the hips in a way that was supposed to make her look slimmer , a yoke set into the skirt and flaring pleats below .

2
[ verb ] fold into pleats, "Pleat the cloth"

Synonyms

plicate

Related terms

fold fold

3
[ verb ] pleat or gather into a ruffle

Synonyms

ruffle

Examples

"ruffle the curtain fabric"

Related terms

fold

*