LINEN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does linen mean? 

• LINEN (noun)
  The noun LINEN has 3 senses:

1. a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

2. a high-quality paper made of linen fibers or with a linen finish

3. white goods or clothing made with linen cloth

  Familiarity information: LINEN used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LINEN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

cloth; fabric; material; textile (artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers)

Meronyms (substance of "linen"):

flax (fiber of the flax plant that is made into thread and woven into linen fabric)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A high-quality paper made of linen fibers or with a linen finish

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

linen; linen paper

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

paper (a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses)

Sense 3

Meaning:

White goods or clothing made with linen cloth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

household linen; white goods (drygoods for household use that are typically made of white cloth)

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

bath linen (linens for use in the bathroom)

bed linen (linen or cotton articles for a bed (as sheets and pillowcases))

doily; doyley; doyly (a small round piece of linen placed under a dish or bowl)

napery; table linen (linens for the dining table)

 Context examples 

‘And how was it then that Charles did not get his crown when he returned?’ asked Musgrave, pushing back the relic into its linen bag.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Afterwards two pretty little beds were covered with clean white linen, and Hansel and Gretel lay down in them, and thought they were in heaven.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

"Do you know I like this room most of all in my baby house," added Meg, a minute after, as they went upstairs and she looked into her well-stored linen closet.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

At seven in the evening they broke off to run the hotel linen through the mangle.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

When your father and mother moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved, and is now left to your mother.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

He was dressed from head to foot in a long white linen cloth, and a high white cap with a red cross printed upon it.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Sir Thomas sent friendly advice and professions, Lady Bertram dispatched money and baby-linen, and Mrs. Norris wrote the letters.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I am sorry that Miss Sutherland has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far better not to wash linen of the sort in public.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In it lay some table linen and a large corkscrew.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Their linen is usually three inches wide, and three feet make a piece.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)