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cloth definition

cloth (klôt̸h, klät̸h)

noun pl. cloths (klôt̸hz, klät̸hz; also klôt̸hs, klät̸hs forkinds of cloth'')

  1. a woven, knitted, or pressed fabric of fibrous material, as cotton, wool, silk, hair, or synthetic fibers
  2. a piece of such fabric for a specific use tablecloth, washcloth, loincloth

Etymology: ME < OE clath, cloth, hence garment, akin to -clithan, to stick, clitha, poultice < IE *gleit- (> Ger kleid, dress) < base *glei-, to stick > clay

adjective

  1. made of cloth
  2. clothbound
cloth Idioms

the cloth

  1. the usual or identifying dress of a profession, esp. of the clergy
  2. the clergy collectively

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:
cloth Synonyms

cloth

n.

  1. fabric, material, stuff, goods, dry goods, textiles, weave, tissue, twill, yard goods, synthetics, rag.

    Types of cloth include: canvas, linen, piqué, broadcloth, percale, poplin, lawn, chintz, gingham, muslin, lisle, gabardine, chambray, cambric, calico, drill, cotton, terry, khaki, denim, permanent press denim, dimity, tweed, serge, homespun, cheviot, cashmere, worsted, wool, plaid, flannel, silk, mercerized cotton, taffeta, pongee, satin, crepe de Chine, damask, voile chiffon, alpaca, velvet, corduroy, plush, hopsacking, brocade, vicuña, angora, blanketing, bagging, bunting, carpeting, ramie, sacking, skirting, felt, oilcloth, burlap, tarpaulin, organza, organdy, sharkskin.

  2. Types of synthetic cloth include: nylon, rayon, viscose rayon, acrylic, polyester, olefin, polyethelene, acetate; Dacron, Orlon, Acrilan, Avril, Spandex, Saran, Gore-Tex, Terylene, Vinyon, Naugahyde (all trademarks).


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

cloth Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • soak: Handle, seat, trap should be wiped with a damp cloth soaked in a solution of disinfectant eg.

Adjective modifier

  • woolen: By the end of the 17th century a large amount of woolen cloth was being sold in the markets of Leeds.

Modifies a noun

  • diaper: Tom's cloth diapers were too big for his baby clothes!

Noun used with modifier

  • loin: They wear few clothes apart from a loin cloth or skirt of goat skin.
cloth usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

cloth quotes

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

-Bible (NewTestament)

Fine cloth is never out of fashion.

-Fuller,Thomas

And there he plays extravagant matches In fitless finger-stalls On a cloth untrue With a twisted cue And elliptical billiard balls.

-Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

cloth quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"cloth." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/cloth>

APA Style

cloth. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/cloth

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