Sequins and sequence are two words that sound very similar but have different spellings and different definitions. We will look at the meaning of sequins and sequence, where the words come from and some examples of their use in sentences.
Sequins are small, shiny discs made from plastic or very thin metal that are used for decoration, especially on items of dress. Technically, a sequin has a hole in the very center, while a spangle has a hole at the top. Sequins are usually round, though they may be cut in any shape. The word sequin is derived from the colloquial term for a Venetian coin, a zecchino, adapted into the French language as sequin.
A sequence is the order in which a group of related items is arranged, a successive order of things. A sequence may also refer to a series of events that follow one another, the order in which amino-acids are ordered in a protein or a set of successive playing cards. Sequence may be used as a noun or a transitive verb, which is a verb that takes an object. Related words are sequences, sequenced, sequencing, sequential. Sequence is derived from the Latin word sequi, which means to follow.
Examples
It seemed to have thousands upon thousands of silvery sequins and ended with a spray of sea-foam tulle; “showstopping” was how Vogue’s Virginia Smith described it. (Vogue Magazine)
The Made In Chelsea funnyman slipped into some festive sequins – as previously worn by his Instagram-savvy sister – to imitate the brunette beauty on Monday. (The Daily Mail)
One particular scene that has been resonating with critics and audiences as well depicts Gosling and his love interest, Mia (Emma Stone), in a lovely dance sequence in the moonlight — reminiscent of the waltzes executed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, back in the day. (The Chicago Sun-Times)