From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishembroiderem‧broi‧der /ɪmˈbrɔɪdə $ -ər/ verb 1 DLHDECORATE[intransitive, transitive] to decorate cloth by sewing a pattern, picture, or words on it with coloured threadsembroider something with something The dress was embroidered with flowers.embroider something on something A colourful design was embroidered on the sleeve of the shirt. a richly embroidered jacket2 [transitive]ADD to make a story or report of events more interesting or exciting by adding details that are not true SYN embellish→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
embroider• He embroidered his stories and kept us entertained for hours.• They taught me darning, knitting, embroidering, mending, solitaire, palm-reading, whatever they knew.• I do not think there is any question of them having embroidered on these events in any way.• I used a grey yarn to embroider the body and antennae.• Amy embroidered the history of the family as well.• The cushion was embroidered with a pattern of golden keys.• I would have bought you a new slip, of satin, trimmed with lace, or embroidered with roses.Origin embroider (1300-1400) Anglo-French enbrouder, from Old French brouder “to embroider” 