FABRIC

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fabric mean? 

• FABRIC (noun)
  The noun FABRIC has 2 senses:

1. artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

2. the underlying structure

  Familiarity information: FABRIC used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FABRIC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

cloth; fabric; material; textile

Context example:

she measured off enough material for a dress

Hypernyms ("fabric" is a kind of...):

artefact; artifact (a man-made object taken as a whole)

Meronyms (parts of "fabric"):

edging (border consisting of anything placed on the edge to finish something (such as a fringe on clothing or on a rug))

hem (the edge of a piece of cloth; especially the finished edge that has been doubled under and stitched down)

Meronyms (substance of "fabric"):

warp (yarn arranged lengthways on a loom and crossed by the woof)

filling; pick; weft; woof (the yarn woven across the warp yarn in weaving)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fabric"):

aba (a fabric woven from goat hair and camel hair)

acrylic (a synthetic fabric)

Aertex (a trademark for a loosely woven cotton fabric that is used to make shirts and underwear)

alpaca (a thin glossy fabric made of the wool of the Lama pacos, or made of a rayon or cotton imitation of that wool)

baize (a bright green fabric napped to resemble felt; used to cover gaming tables)

basket weave (a cloth woven of two or more threads interlaced to suggest the weave of a basket)

batik (a dyed fabric; a removable wax is used where the dye is not wanted)

batiste (a thin plain-weave cotton or linen fabric; used for shirts or dresses)

belting (the material of which belts are made)

bombazine (a twilled fabric used for dresses; the warp is silk and the weft is worsted)

boucle (a fabric of uneven yarn that has an uneven knobby effect)

broadcloth (a closely woven silk or synthetic fabric with a narrow crosswise rib)

broadcloth (a densely textured woolen fabric with a lustrous finish)

brocade (thick heavy expensive material with a raised pattern)

buckram (a coarse cotton fabric stiffened with glue; used in bookbinding and to stiffen clothing)

bunting (a loosely woven fabric used for flags, etc.)

calico (coarse cloth with a bright print)

cambric (a finely woven white linen)

camel's hair; camelhair (a soft tan cloth made with the hair of a camel)

camlet (a fabric of Asian origin; originally made of silk and camel's hair)

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)

canopy (the umbrellalike part of a parachute that fills with air)

canvas; canvass (a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents))

cashmere (a soft fabric made from the wool of the Cashmere goat)

cerecloth (a waterproof waxed cloth once used as a shroud)

challis (a soft lightweight fabric (usually printed))

chambray (a lightweight fabric woven with white threads across a colored warp)

chenille (a heavy fabric woven with chenille cord; used in rugs and bedspreads)

chiffon (a sheer fabric of silk or rayon)

chino (a coarse twilled cotton fabric frequently used for uniforms)

chintz (a brightly printed and glazed cotton fabric)

coating (a heavy fabric suitable for coats)

cobweb (a fabric so delicate and transparent as to resemble a web of a spider)

cord; corduroy (a cut pile fabric with vertical ribs; usually made of cotton)

cotton (fabric woven from cotton fibers)

Canton flannel; cotton flannel (a stout cotton fabric with nap on only one side)

crape; crepe (a soft thin light fabric with a crinkled surface)

cretonne (an unglazed heavy fabric; brightly printed; used for slipcovers and draperies)

crinoline (a stiff coarse fabric used to stiffen hats or clothing)

damask (a fabric of linen or cotton or silk or wool with a reversible pattern woven into it)

denim; dungaree; jean (a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric)

diamante (fabric covered with glittering ornaments such as sequins or rhinestones)

diaper (a fabric (usually cotton or linen) with a distinctive woven pattern of small repeated figures)

dimity (a strong cotton fabric with a raised pattern; used for bedcovers and curtains)

doeskin (a fine smooth soft woolen fabric)

drapery (cloth gracefully draped and arranged in loose folds)

duck (a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave; used for clothing and tents)

duffel; duffle (a coarse heavy woolen fabric)

elastic (a fabric made of yarns containing an elastic material)

etamin; etamine (a soft cotton or worsted fabric with an open mesh; used for curtains or clothing etc.)

faille (a ribbed woven fabric of silk or rayon or cotton)

felt (a fabric made of compressed matted animal fibers)

fiber; fibre; vulcanized fiber (a leatherlike material made by compressing layers of paper or cloth)

flannel (a soft light woolen fabric; used for clothing)

flannelette (a cotton fabric imitating flannel)

fleece (a soft bulky fabric with deep pile; used chiefly for clothing)

foulard (a light plain-weave or twill-weave silk or silklike fabric (usually with a printed design))

frieze (a heavy woolen fabric with a long nap)

fustian (a strong cotton and linen fabric with a slight nap)

gabardine (a firm durable fabric with a twill weave)

georgette (a thin silk dress material)

gingham (a clothing fabric in a plaid weave)

grogram (a coarse fabric of silk mixed with wool or mohair and often stiffened with gum)

grosgrain (a silk or silklike fabric with crosswise ribs)

hair; haircloth (cloth woven from horsehair or camelhair; used for upholstery or stiffening in garments)

herringbone (a twilled fabric with a herringbone pattern)

homespun (a rough loosely woven fabric originally made with yarn that was spun at home)

hopsack; hopsacking (a loosely woven coarse fabric of cotton or linen; used in clothing)

horsehair (a fabric made from fibers taken from the mane or tail of horses; used for upholstery)

jaconet (a lightweight cotton cloth with a smooth and slightly stiff finish; used for clothing and bandages)

jacquard (a highly figured fabric woven on a Jacquard loom)

khaddar; khadi (a coarse homespun cotton cloth made in India)

khaki (a sturdy twilled cloth of a yellowish brown color used especially for military uniforms)

knit (a fabric made by knitting)

lace (a delicate decorative fabric woven in an open web of symmetrical patterns)

lame (a fabric interwoven with threads of metal)

imitation leather; leatherette (fabric made to look like leather)

linen (a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant)

linsey-woolsey (a rough fabric of linen warp and wool or cotton woof)

lint (cotton or linen fabric with the nap raised on one side; used to dress wounds)

lisle (a fabric woven with lisle thread)

mackinaw (a heavy woolen cloth heavily napped and felted, often with a plaid design)

macintosh; mackintosh (a lightweight waterproof (usually rubberized) fabric)

madras (a light patterned cotton cloth)

marseille (strong cotton fabric with a raised pattern; used for bedspreads)

metallic (a fabric made of a yarn that is partly or entirely of metal)

mohair (fabric made with yarn made from the silky hair of the Angora goat)

moire; watered-silk (silk fabric with a wavy surface pattern)

moleskin (a durable cotton fabric with a velvety nap)

monk's cloth (a heavy cloth in basket weave)

moquette (a thick velvety synthetic fabric used for carpets and soft upholstery)

moreen (a heavy fabric of wool (or wool and cotton) used mostly in upholstery or for curtains)

motley (a multicolored woolen fabric woven of mixed threads in 14th to 17th century England)

mousseline de sole (a gauze-like fabric of silk or rayon)

muslin (plain-woven cotton fabric)

nankeen (a durable fabric formerly loomed by hand in China from natural cotton having a yellowish color)

mesh; meshing; meshwork; net; network (an open fabric of string or rope or wire woven together at regular intervals)

ninon (a fine strong sheer silky fabric made of silk or rayon or nylon)

nylon (a synthetic fabric)

oilcloth (cloth treated on one side with a drying oil or synthetic resin)

olive drab (a cloth of an olive-brown color used for military uniforms)

organza (a fabric made of silk or a silklike fabric that resembles organdy)

paisley (a soft wool fabric with a colorful swirled pattern of curved shapes)

panting; trousering (any fabric used to make trousers)

pepper-and-salt (a fabric woven with flecks of light and dark)

percale (a fine closely woven cotton fabric)

durable press; permanent press (a fabric that has been chemically processed to resist wrinkles and hold its shape)

piece of cloth; piece of material (a separate part consisting of fabric)

pilot cloth (a thick blue cloth used to make overcoats and coats for sailors etc)

pinstripe (a fabric with very thin stripes)

pique (tightly woven fabric with raised cords)

plush (a fabric with a nap that is longer and softer than velvet)

polyester (any of a large class of synthetic fabrics)

pongee (a soft thin cloth woven from raw silk (or an imitation))

poplin (a ribbed fabric used in clothing and upholstery)

print (a fabric with a dyed pattern pressed onto it (usually by engraved rollers))

quilting (a material used for making a quilt, or a quilted fabric)

rayon (a synthetic silklike fabric)

rep; repp (a fabric with prominent rounded crosswise ribs)

sackcloth (a coarse cloth resembling sacking)

bagging; sacking (coarse fabric used for bags or sacks)

sailcloth (a strong fabric (such as cotton canvas) used for making sails and tents)

samite (a heavy silk fabric (often woven with silver or gold threads); used to make clothing in the Middle Ages)

sateen (a cotton fabric with a satiny finish)

satin (a smooth fabric of silk or rayon; has a glossy face and a dull back)

satinet; satinette (a fabric with a finish resembling satin but made partly or wholly from cotton or synthetic fiber)

screening (fabric of metal or plastic mesh)

scrim (a firm open-weave fabric used for a curtain in the theater)

seersucker (a light puckered fabric (usually striped))

serge (a twilled woolen fabric)

shag (a fabric with long coarse nap)

shantung (a heavy silk fabric with a rough surface (or a cotton imitation))

sharkskin (a smooth crisp fabric)

sheeting (fabric from which bed sheets are made)

shirting (any of various fabrics used to make men's shirts)

shirttail (fabric forming the tail of a shirt)

silesia (a sturdy twill-weave cotton fabric; used for pockets and linings)

silk (a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae)

spandex (an elastic synthetic fabric)

sponge cloth (any soft porous fabric (especially in a loose honeycomb weave))

stammel (a coarse woolen cloth formerly used for undergarments and usually dyed bright red)

suede; suede cloth (a fabric made to resemble suede leather)

suiting (a fabric used for suits)

swan's down (soft woolen fabric used especially for baby clothes)

taffeta (a crisp smooth lustrous fabric)

tammy (plain-woven (often glazed) fabric of wool or wool and cotton used especially formerly for linings and garments and curtains)

tapa; tappa (a paperlike cloth made in the South Pacific by pounding tapa bark)

tapestry; tapis (a heavy textile with a woven design; used for curtains and upholstery)

plaid; tartan (a cloth having a crisscross design)

terry; terry cloth; terrycloth (a pile fabric (usually cotton) with uncut loops on both sides; used to make bath towels and bath robes)

ticking (a strong fabric used for mattress and pillow covers)

toweling; towelling (any of various fabrics (linen or cotton) used to make towels)

tweed (thick woolen fabric used for clothing; originated in Scotland)

twill (a cloth with parallel diagonal lines or ribs)

upholstery material (the fabric used in upholstering)

Velcro (nylon fabric used as a fastening)

velour; velours (heavy fabric that resembles velvet)

velvet (a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back)

velveteen (a usually cotton fabric with a short pile imitating velvet)

vicuna (a soft wool fabric made from the fleece of the vicuna)

Viyella (a fabric made from a twilled mixture of cotton and wool)

voile (a light semitransparent fabric)

wash-and-wear (a fabric treated to be easily washable and to require no ironing)

waterproof (any fabric impervious to water)

web (a fabric (especially a fabric in the process of being woven))

webbing (a strong fabric woven in strips)

whipcord (a strong worsted or cotton fabric with a diagonal rib)

wincey (a plain or twilled fabric of wool and cotton used especially for warm shirts or skirts and pajamas)

wire cloth (fabric woven of metallic wire)

wool; woolen; woollen (a fabric made from the hair of sheep)

worsted (a woolen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns)

yoke (fabric comprising a fitted part at the top of a garment)

pina cloth (a fine cloth made from pineapple fibers)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The underlying structure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

fabric; framework

Context example:

it is part of the fabric of society

Hypernyms ("fabric" is a kind of...):

structure (the manner of construction of something and the arrangement of its parts)

 Context examples 

It is the truth of the sneer, stamped out from the black iron of the Cosmos and interwoven with mighty rhythms of sound into a fabric of splendor and beauty.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A pliable length of fabric, plastic, paper or some composite that is has incremental lengths imprinted on the surface.

(Measuring Tape, NCI Thesaurus)

A pliable length of fabric, plastic, paper or some composite marked off in a linear scale, as of inches or centimeters, for taking measurements.

(Measuring Tape, NICHD)

The concentrations of the two chemicals found in the socks sold at the local bargain store in the sample reached a maximum of 3,736 ng of bisphenol A per gram of fabric.

(Nine out of ten pairs of baby socks on the market contain traces of bisphenol A and parabens, University of Granada)

The versatility of the process allows various types of electronic components to be incorporated into the fabric.

(Washable, wearable battery-like devices could be woven directly into clothes, University of Cambridge)

Black hole mergers generate gravitational waves because, as they orbit each other, their gravity distorts the fabric of space-time, sending ripples outward in all directions at the speed of light.

(Listening for Gravitational Waves Using Pulsars, NASA)

It is used to make products such as paper, fabric, and plastic, and is used as a pesticide.

(Cyanide, NCI Dictionary)

Avoid scratching, wearing irritating fabrics and high heat and humidity.

(Itching, NIH)

Then he smelled the strange fabric, saturated with the man-smell.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The protector had become the protected, and the whole fabric of the feudal system was tottering to a fall.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)