braille

noun

variants or Braille
: a system of writing for the blind that uses characters made up of raised dots
braille transitive verb
brailled; brailling
braillist noun

Illustration of braille

Illustration of braille
  • braille alphabet

Did you know?

In 1824, Louis Braille invented the system we call braille, a universal system of writing and printing for the blind. Characters embossed on paper are read by passing the fingers lightly over the manuscript. The system is based on a matrix of six raised dots arranged in two columns of three. The 63 combinations possible in this framework stand for letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and common words like and and the. A braille code for English was not adopted until 1932. Modifications also exist for other languages, for mathematical and technical material, and for musical notation. Braille may be handwritten—from right to left— using a stylus to press dots into a piece of paper between hinged metal plates When the sheet is turned over, the dots face up, and are read from left to right. Braille typewriters and electric embossing machines are also used.

Examples of braille in a Sentence

a book made available in braille
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Letter information is then input into the device, translated to braille and sent to the motors. Kevin Anderton, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024 The Details: Location: Sulphur Mountain in Banff National Park Accessibility: Accessible rooms, service animals welcome, braille, and employee assistance available. Laura Studarus, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2024 Visitors will find braille instructional text, tactile maps, and American Sign Language interpretations of media. Anna Spiegel, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024 Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible rooms with roll-in showers, accessible transportation options, and braille signs. Laura Studarus, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for braille 

Word History

Etymology

Louis Braille

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of braille was in 1853

Dictionary Entries Near braille

Cite this Entry

“Braille.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/braille. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

braille

noun
often capitalized
: a system of writing for the blind in which letters are represented by raised dots
Etymology

named for Louis Braille who developed the system

Medical Definition

braille

noun
often capitalized
: a system of writing for the blind that uses characters made up of raised dots
braille transitive verb
brailled; brailling

Biographical Definition

Braille

biographical name

ˈbrāl How to pronounce Braille (audio)
ˈbrī
Louis 1809–1852 French blind teacher of the blind

More from Merriam-Webster on braille

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