English Dictionary |
WORSTED
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Dictionary entry overview: What does worsted mean?
• WORSTED (noun)
The noun WORSTED has 2 senses:
1. a woolen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns
2. a tightly twisted woolen yarn spun from long-staple wool
Familiarity information: WORSTED used as a noun is rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A woolen fabric with a hard textured surface and no nap; woven of worsted yarns
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Context example:
he wore a worsted suit
Hypernyms ("worsted" is a kind of...):
cloth; fabric; material; textile (artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A tightly twisted woolen yarn spun from long-staple wool
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Synonyms:
worsted; worsted yarn
Hypernyms ("worsted" is a kind of...):
thread; yarn (a fine cord of twisted fibers (of cotton or silk or wool or nylon etc.) used in sewing and weaving)
Context examples
Everybody dawdled that morning, and it was noon before the girls found energy enough even to take up their worsted work.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
How many winter days have I seen him, standing blue-nosed, in the snow and east wind, looking at the boys going down the long slide, and clapping his worsted gloves in rapture!
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Of Elinor's distress, she was too busily employed in measuring lengths of worsted for her rug, to see any thing at all; and calmly continuing her talk, as soon as Marianne disappeared, she said, Upon my word, I never saw a young woman so desperately in love in my life!
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
You looked very much puzzled, Miss Eyre; and though you are not pretty any more than I am handsome, yet a puzzled air becomes you; besides, it is convenient, for it keeps those searching eyes of yours away from my physiognomy, and busies them with the worsted flowers of the rug; so puzzle on.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
I made it like those Beth invented, a big butterfly with a fat body, and black and yellow wings, worsted feelers, and bead eyes.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
"Then you may come, and I'll teach you to knit as the Scotchmen do. There's a demand for socks just now," added Jo, waving hers like a big blue worsted banner as they parted at the gate.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
When Amy had whetted her tongue and freed her mind she usually got the best of it, for she seldom failed to have common sense on her side, while Jo carried her love of liberty and hate of conventionalities to such an unlimited extent that she naturally found herself worsted in an argument.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
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