trama

Trama is a term with multiple meanings in Spanish, used across disciplines to denote the underlying structure that connects or organizes elements within a system. The word derives from Latin trama, meaning web or net.

In textiles, la trama is the weft—the set of horizontal threads interlaced with the vertical warp to form a fabric. The warp (urdimbre) runs lengthwise, while the trama crosses it, providing the fabric with texture and strength.

In narrative arts, la trama refers to the plot or storyline: the sequence of events and their causal relationships that shape a story. The trama encompasses main and subplots, character arcs, and moments of conflict and resolution.

In urban planning and geography, la trama is used to describe the urban fabric or the spatial network of a city. This includes the arrangement of streets, blocks, and public spaces that organize movement, land use, and daily life.

In other contexts, the term is often used figuratively to denote the framework or scheme underlying a system—such as a social trama (network of relationships) or a causal trama of events. The exact sense depends on the domain, but across uses it conveys the idea of an organizing structure that ties elements together.