French word

emboîter

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃bwate/

Meaning

  • verbfit together

Example

Tu dois emboîter ces deux pièces.

You have to fit these two pieces together.

Illustration for emboîter (fit together)

More examples

Elle a emboîté le pas à son collègue.

She fell into step with her colleague.

Core concept

A shaped piece slides into a matching recess, leaving the parts locked together.

Common phrases

  • emboîter le pas à quelqu'un

    fall into step with ___

  • emboîter des pièces

    join pieces together

Similar words

s'emboîter: To fit snugly together as a unified whole.
insérer: To put something into an opening or space.
assembler: To put separate parts or elements together into a whole.
ajuster: To fine-tune the position or shape for a precise fit.

Definition in French

Assembler deux éléments en faisant entrer l'un dans l'autre de manière ajustée.

Word origin

Emboîter comes from Middle French emboîter, formed with en- and boîte, and extends the idea of putting something into a box to fitting parts together.

Usage tips

  • The transitive verb emboîter takes the part being fitted as its direct object; s'emboîter means that parts fit into one another.

Other meanings

  • insertverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word