draped

Draped is the past participle of the verb drape and is used as an adjective to describe fabric or other materials that are arranged, hung, or wrapped in loose folds. In textiles and fashion, a draped garment or fabric falls in soft, flowing lines, often emphasized by the way it settles over the body or an object. This technique appears in traditional and contemporary outfits, including gowns, shawls, and scarves, and is widely used in costume design and photography to convey elegance, movement, or modesty.

In sculpture and visual arts, draped describes figures clothed with fabric or fabric-like forms, where the folds influence light, shadow, weight, and perceived motion. In interior design and architecture, draped textiles or panels can soften spaces or control acoustics, with curtains and fabric wall coverings being common examples.

In geology, the term is used metaphorically to describe rock layers that lie over uneven topography in a blanket-like, curved fashion, as if the strata were draped over underlying features. The concept of drape also appears in geophysics and civil engineering when a surface or layer covers another as a continuous mantle, often signaling deposition over relief or the inferred shape of the subsurface.

Common related terms include drapery (the fabric or its arrangement) and drape (the act of covering). The word connotes flexibility and fluidity, contrasting with rigid wrapping, and is widely used across disciplines to describe the appearance and behavior of materials arranged in folds.