WordValedado
the lower part of an interior wall, often decorated
In more detail
1. (noun) the lower part of an interior wall, often decorated differently from the rest of the wall
2. (noun) in carpentry, a groove or slot cut across the grain of wood
Examples
- 1. The dado in the dining room was painted a darker color to create visual interest.
- 2. The carpenter cut a dado in the shelf to hold the divider in place.
How to use dado
In interior design, dado refers to the decorative lower section of a wall, typically separated by a dado rail; it is common in traditional or classical interiors. In carpentry, dado is a technical term for a rectangular groove cut into wood, used in joinery. The term is more frequent in British English for wall decoration and in technical woodworking contexts internationally.
Common phrases
- dado rail
- dado joint
- paint the dado
- dado panel
- dado board
Synonyms
wainscoting · paneling · skirting board · wall base
Word family
dadoes (plural) · dados (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse dado with baseboard or molding, though dado refers to the entire lower section of wall, not just the trim at the bottom.
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