Woven describes something made by interlacing threads, strips, or strands over and under each other in a crisscross pattern. When fabric is woven, threads run vertically and horizontally, passing over and under each other like a checkerboard. If you've ever made a potholder on a small loom or created a paper placemat by weaving strips together, you've seen this process firsthand.

Most clothing is made from woven fabric. Jeans, button-up shirts, and dress pants all start as threads woven together on massive machines called looms. Baskets are woven from reeds or strips of wood. Rugs can be woven from yarn or fabric strips. Even some fences are woven from thin branches or wire.

People have been weaving for thousands of years, long before factories existed. Ancient weavers created everything from simple blankets to elaborate tapestries showing detailed scenes and stories.

You might also hear someone say that different ideas or story elements are woven together, meaning they're combined skillfully to create something unified and whole.