fabric
Other forms: fabrics
Fabric is what something is made from, especially clothing. Silk is a common fabric, but you can also talk about "the fabric of society."
The most common use of fabric is for clothes: for example, denim is the fabric used to make jeans. All clothes are made of some type or combination of fabrics. The basic structure of a building or a vehicle can also be called fabric, and non-physical things can be represented as fabric too. Metaphorically, you could say honesty is part of the fabric of friendship, or love is part of the fabric of family. Fabric is always the foundation or essence of something.
Definitions of fabric
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artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers“the fabric in the curtains was light and semitransparent”
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types:
- show 239 types...
- hide 239 types...
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aba
a fabric woven from goat hair and camel hair
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acrylic
a synthetic fabric
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Aertex
a trademark for a loosely woven cotton fabric that is used to make shirts and underwear
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alpaca
a thin glossy fabric made of the wool of the Lama pacos, or made of a rayon or cotton imitation of that wool
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baize
a bright green fabric napped to resemble felt; used to cover gaming tables
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basket weave
a cloth woven of two or more threads interlaced to suggest the weave of a basket
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batik
a dyed fabric; a removable wax is used where the dye is not wanted
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batiste
a thin plain-weave cotton or linen fabric; used for shirts or dresses
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belting
the material of which belts are made
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bombazine
a twilled fabric used for dresses; the warp is silk and the weft is worsted
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boucle
a fabric of uneven yarn that has an uneven knobby effect
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broadcloth
a closely woven silk or synthetic fabric with a narrow crosswise rib
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broadcloth
a densely textured woolen fabric with a lustrous finish
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brocade
thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern
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buckram
a coarse cotton fabric stiffened with glue; used in bookbinding and to stiffen clothing
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bunting
a loosely woven fabric used for flags, etc.
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calico
coarse cloth with a bright print
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cambric
a finely woven white linen
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camel's hair, camelhair
a soft tan cloth made with the hair of a camel
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camlet
a fabric of Asian origin; originally made of silk and camel's hair
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camo, camouflage
fabric dyed with splotches of green and brown and black and tan; intended to make the wearer of a garment made of this fabric hard to distinguish from the background
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canopy
the umbrellalike part of a parachute that fills with air
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canvas, canvass
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
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cashmere
a soft fabric made from the wool of the Cashmere goat
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cerecloth
a waterproof waxed cloth once used as a shroud
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challis
a soft lightweight fabric (usually printed)
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chambray
a lightweight fabric woven with white threads across a colored warp
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chenille
a heavy fabric woven with chenille cord; used in rugs and bedspreads
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chiffon
a sheer fabric of silk or rayon
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chino
a coarse twilled cotton fabric frequently used for uniforms
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chintz
a brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric
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coating
a heavy fabric suitable for coats
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cobweb
a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider
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cord, corduroy
a cut pile fabric with vertical ribs; usually made of cotton
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cotton
fabric woven from cotton fibers
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Canton flannel, cotton flannel
a stout cotton fabric with nap on only one side
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crape, crepe
a soft thin light fabric with a crinkled surface
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cretonne
an unglazed heavy fabric; brightly printed; used for slipcovers and draperies
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crinoline
a stiff coarse fabric used to stiffen hats or clothing
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damask
a fabric of linen or cotton or silk or wool with a reversible pattern woven into it
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denim, dungaree, jean
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
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diamante
fabric covered with glittering ornaments such as sequins or rhinestones
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diaper
a fabric (usually cotton or linen) with a distinctive woven pattern of small repeated figures
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dimity
a strong cotton fabric with a raised pattern; used for bedcovers and curtains
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doeskin
a fine smooth soft woolen fabric
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drapery
cloth gracefully draped and arranged in loose folds
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duck
a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave; used for clothing and tents
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duffel, duffle
a coarse heavy woolen fabric
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elastic
a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material
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etamin, etamine
a soft cotton or worsted fabric with an open mesh; used for curtains or clothing etc.
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faille
a ribbed woven fabric of silk or rayon or cotton
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felt
a fabric made of compressed matted animal fibers
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fiber, fibre, vulcanized fiber
a leatherlike material made by compressing layers of paper or cloth
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flannel
a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing
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flannelette
a cotton fabric imitating flannel
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fleece
a soft bulky fabric with deep pile; used chiefly for clothing
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foulard
a light plain-weave or twill-weave silk or silklike fabric (usually with a printed design)
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frieze
a heavy woolen fabric with a long nap
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fustian
a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap
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gabardine
a firm durable fabric with a twill weave
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georgette
a thin silk dress material
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gingham
a clothing fabric in a plaid weave
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grogram
a coarse fabric of silk mixed with wool or mohair and often stiffened with gum
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grosgrain
a silk or silklike fabric with crosswise ribs
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hair, haircloth
cloth woven from horsehair or camelhair; used for upholstery or stiffening in garments
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herringbone
a twilled fabric with a herringbone pattern
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homespun
a rough loosely woven fabric originally made with yarn that was spun at home
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hopsack, hopsacking
a loosely woven coarse fabric of cotton or linen; used in clothing
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horsehair
a fabric made from fibers taken from the mane or tail of horses; used for upholstery
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jaconet
a lightweight cotton cloth with a smooth and slightly stiff finish; used for clothing and bandages
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jacquard
a highly figured fabric woven on a Jacquard loom
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khaddar, khadi
a coarse homespun cotton cloth made in India
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khaki
a sturdy twilled cloth of a yellowish brown color used especially for military uniforms
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knit
a fabric made by knitting
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lace
a delicate decorative fabric woven in an open web of symmetrical patterns
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lame
a fabric interwoven with threads of metal
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imitation leather, leatherette
fabric made to look like leather
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linen
a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
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linsey-woolsey
a rough fabric of linen warp and wool or cotton woof
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lint
cotton or linen fabric with the nap raised on one side; used to dress wounds
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lisle
a fabric woven with lisle thread
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mackinaw
a heavy woolen cloth heavily napped and felted, often with a plaid design
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macintosh, mackintosh
a lightweight waterproof (usually rubberized) fabric
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madras
a light patterned cotton cloth
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marseille
strong cotton fabric with a raised pattern; used for bedspreads
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metallic
a fabric made of a yarn that is partly or entirely of metal
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mohair
fabric made with yarn made from the silky hair of the Angora goat
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moire, watered-silk
silk fabric with a wavy surface pattern
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moleskin
a durable cotton fabric with a velvety nap
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monk's cloth
a heavy cloth in basket weave
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moquette
a thick velvety synthetic fabric used for carpets and soft upholstery
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moreen
a heavy fabric of wool (or wool and cotton) used mostly in upholstery or for curtains
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motley
a multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th to 17th century England
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mousseline de sole
a gauze-like fabric of silk or rayon
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muslin
plain-woven cotton fabric
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nankeen
a durable fabric formerly loomed by hand in China from natural cotton having a yellowish color
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mesh, meshing, meshwork, net, network
an open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals
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ninon
a fine strong sheer silky fabric made of silk or rayon or nylon
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nylon
a synthetic fabric
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oilcloth
cloth treated on one side with a drying oil or synthetic resin
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olive drab
a cloth of an olive-brown color used for military uniforms
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organza
a fabric made of silk or a silklike fabric that resembles organdy
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paisley
a soft wool fabric with a colorful swirled pattern of curved shapes
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panting, trousering
any fabric used to make trousers
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pepper-and-salt
a fabric woven with flecks of light and dark
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percale
a fine closely woven cotton fabric
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durable press, permanent press
a fabric that has been chemically processed to resist wrinkles and hold its shape
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piece of cloth, piece of material
a separate part consisting of fabric
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pilot cloth
a thick blue cloth used to make overcoats and coats for sailors etc
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pinstripe
a fabric with very thin stripes
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pique
tightly woven fabric with raised cords
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plush
a fabric with a nap that is longer and softer than velvet
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polyester
any of a large class of synthetic fabrics
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pongee
a soft thin cloth woven from raw silk (or an imitation)
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poplin
a ribbed fabric used in clothing and upholstery
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print
a fabric with a dyed pattern pressed onto it (usually by engraved rollers)
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quilting
a material used for making a quilt, or a quilted fabric
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rayon
a synthetic silklike fabric
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rep, repp
a fabric with prominent rounded crosswise ribs
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sackcloth
a coarse cloth resembling sacking
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bagging, sacking
coarse fabric used for bags or sacks
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sailcloth
a strong fabric (such as cotton canvas) used for making sails and tents
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samite
a heavy silk fabric (often woven with silver or gold threads); used to make clothing in the Middle Ages
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sateen
a cotton fabric with a satiny finish
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satin
a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back
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satinet, satinette
a fabric with a finish resembling satin but made partly or wholly from cotton or synthetic fiber
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screening
fabric of metal or plastic mesh
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scrim
a firm open-weave fabric used for a curtain in the theater
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seersucker
a light puckered fabric (usually striped)
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serge
a twilled woolen fabric
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shag
a fabric with long coarse nap
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shantung
a heavy silk fabric with a rough surface (or a cotton imitation)
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sharkskin
a smooth crisp fabric
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sheeting
fabric from which bed sheets are made
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shirting
any of various fabrics used to make men's shirts
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shirttail
fabric forming the tail of a shirt
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silesia
a sturdy twill-weave cotton fabric; used for pockets and linings
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silk
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
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spandex
an elastic synthetic fabric
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sponge cloth
any soft porous fabric (especially in a loose honeycomb weave)
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stammel
a coarse woolen cloth formerly used for undergarments and usually dyed bright red
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suede, suede cloth
a fabric made to resemble suede leather
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suiting
a fabric used for suits
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swan's down
soft woolen fabric used especially for baby clothes
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taffeta
a crisp smooth lustrous fabric
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tammy
plain-woven (often glazed) fabric of wool or wool and cotton used especially formerly for linings and garments and curtains
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tapa, tappa
a paperlike cloth made in the South Pacific by pounding tapa bark
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tapestry, tapis
a heavy textile with a woven design; used for curtains and upholstery
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plaid, tartan
a cloth having a crisscross design
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terry, terry cloth, terrycloth
a pile fabric (usually cotton) with uncut loops on both sides; used to make bath towels and bath robes
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ticking
a strong fabric used for mattress and pillow covers
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toweling, towelling
any of various fabrics (linen or cotton) used to make towels
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tweed
thick woolen fabric used for clothing; originated in Scotland
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twill
a cloth with parallel diagonal lines or ribs
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upholstery material
the fabric used in upholstering
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Velcro
nylon fabric used as a fastening
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velour, velours
heavy fabric that resembles velvet
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velvet
a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back
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velveteen
a usually cotton fabric with a short pile imitating velvet
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vicuna
a soft wool fabric made from the fleece of the vicuna
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Viyella
a fabric made from a twilled mixture of cotton and wool
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voile
a light semitransparent fabric
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wash-and-wear
a fabric treated to be easily washable and to require no ironing
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waterproof
any fabric impervious to water
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web
a fabric (especially a fabric in the process of being woven)
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webbing
a strong fabric woven in strips
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whipcord
a strong worsted or cotton fabric with a diagonal rib
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wincey
a plain or twilled fabric of wool and cotton used especially for warm shirts or skirts and pajamas
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wire cloth
fabric woven of metallic wire
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wool, woolen, woollen
a fabric made from the hair of sheep
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worsted
a woolen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns "he wore a worsted suit"
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yoke
fabric comprising a fitted part at the top of a garment
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pina cloth
a fine cloth made from pineapple fibers
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acetate, acetate rayon
a fabric made from fibers of cellulose acetate
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balbriggan
a cotton knit fabric used for underwear
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Bedford cord
a heavy corded fabric similar to corduroy; used for clothing
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bib
top part of an apron; covering the chest
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Brussels lace
fine lace with a raised or applique design
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burlap, gunny
coarse jute fabric
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Canton crepe
a soft thick crinkled dress crepe; heavier than crepe de Chine
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chamois cloth
a piece of chamois used for washing windows or cars
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chicken wire
a galvanized wire network with a hexagonal mesh; used to build fences
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chinchilla
a thick twilled fabric of wool and cotton
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Courtelle
an acrylic fabric resembling wool
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crepe de Chine
a very thin crepe of silk or silklike fabric
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Dacron, Terylene
a kind of polyester fabric
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dishcloth, dishrag
a cloth for washing dishes
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double knit
a knit fabric similar to jersey that is made with two sets of needles producing a double thickness joined by interlocking stitches
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drop cloth
a large piece of cloth laid over the floor or furniture while a room is being painted
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dustcloth, duster, dustrag
a piece of cloth used for dusting
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dust cover, dust sheet
a large piece of cloth used to cover furniture that is not in use for a long period
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end, oddment, remainder, remnant
a piece of cloth that is left over after the rest has been used or sold
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filet
lace having a square mesh
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gauze, netting, veiling
a net of transparent fabric with a loose open weave
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gauze, gauze bandage
(medicine) bleached cotton cloth of plain weave used for bandages and dressings
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gore, panel
a piece of cloth that is generally triangular or tapering; used in making garments or umbrellas or sails
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ground cloth, groundsheet
a waterproofed piece of cloth spread on the ground (as under a tent) to protect from moisture
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guimpe
a piece of starched cloth covering the shoulders of a nun's habit
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gusset, inset
a piece of material used to strengthen or enlarge a garment
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hairnet
a small net that some women wear over their hair to keep it in place
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handkerchief, hankey, hankie, hanky
a square piece of cloth used for wiping the eyes or nose or as a costume accessory
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Harris Tweed
a loosely woven tweed made in the Outer Hebrides
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huck, huckaback
toweling consisting of coarse absorbent cotton or linen fabric
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jersey
a slightly elastic machine-knit fabric
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liner, lining
a piece of cloth that is used as the inside surface of a garment
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longyi, lungi, lungyi
a long piece of brightly colored cloth (cotton or silk) used as clothing (a skirt or loincloth or sash etc.) in India and Pakistan and Burma
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macrame
a relatively coarse lace; made by weaving and knotting cords
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crepe marocain, marocain
a dress crepe; similar to Canton crepe
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nainsook
a soft lightweight muslin used especially for babies
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narrow wale
corduroy with narrow ribs
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organdie, organdy
a sheer stiff muslin fabric
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Orlon
an acrylic fiber or the lightweight crease-resistant fabric made with Orlon yarns
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patch
a piece of cloth used as decoration or to mend or cover a hole
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bobbin lace, pillow lace
a handmade lace worked on a pillow with threads wound on bobbins; the pattern is marked out on the pillow by pins
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placket
a piece of cloth sewn under an opening
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needlepoint, point lace
lace worked with a needle in a buttonhole stitch on a paper pattern
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rag, shred, tag, tag end, tatter
a small piece of cloth or paper
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reseau
a net or mesh foundation for lace
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russet
a reddish brown homespun fabric
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safety net
a large strong net to catch circus acrobats who fall or jump from a trapeze
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canvas, canvass, sail, sheet
a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel
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sarcenet, sarsenet
a fine soft silk fabric often used for linings
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save-all
a net hung between ship and pier while loading a ship
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snood
an ornamental net in the shape of a bag that confines a woman's hair; pins or ties at the back of the head
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spark arrester, sparker
a wire net to stop sparks from an open fireplace or smokestack
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stockinet, stockinette
knit used especially for infants' wear and undergarments
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swatch
a sample piece of cloth
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tarp, tarpaulin
waterproofed canvas
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terry, terry cloth, terrycloth
a pile fabric (usually cotton) with uncut loops on both sides; used to make bath towels and bath robes
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towel
a rectangular piece of absorbent cloth (or paper) for drying or wiping
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train
piece of cloth forming the long back section of a gown that is drawn along the floor
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tricot
a knitted fabric or one resembling knitting
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tucker
a detachable yoke of linen or lace worn over the breast of a low-cut dress
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tulle
a fine (often starched) net used for veils or tutus or gowns
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Ultrasuede
a synthetic suede cloth
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viscose, viscose rayon
a rayon fabric made from viscose (cellulose xanthate) fibers
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wide wale
corduroy with wide ribs
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winceyette
cotton flannelette with a nap on both sides
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grillwork, wirework
mesh netting made of wires
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the underlying structure
Pronunciation
US
/ˈfæbrɪk/
UK
/ˈfæbrɪk/
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Word Family
Vocabulary lists containing fabric
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Learn these words from the expository nonfiction by Elizabeth Boylan (Inside: Level A, Unit 1). Here are our links to the selections of "Finding Your Own Place": Growing Together; When I Grow Up, Kids Like Me, Familiar Places, Call Me Maria Here are our links to the units of Level A: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8 Here are our links to the Inside books: Level A, Level B, Level C Here is our link to a list of academic vocabulary for Inside: Academic Vocabulary
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