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fleece definition

fleece (flēs)

noun

  1. the wool covering a sheep or similar animal
  2. the amount of wool cut from a sheep in one shearing
  3. a covering like a sheep's, as of woolly hair
  4. a soft, warm, napped fabric, used for linings, etc.

Etymology: ME flees < OE fleos, akin to Ger vlies < IE base *pleus-, to pluck out > L pluma, a feather, down

transitive verb fleeced, fleecing fleec′·ing

  1. to shear the fleece from (sheep, etc.)
  2. to steal from by fraud; swindle
  3. to cover or fleck with fleecy masses

Related Forms:

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

fleece Synonyms

fleece

n.

wool, fell, hide, pelt; see coat 2, fur, wool 1.


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.

fleece Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • wool: The total stock is estimated at about 700,000, of which about 200,000 produce heavy fleeces of long wool.

Possessives

  • sheep: It also gives a great sense of texture - the sheeps ' fleeces really do look fluffy.

Adjective modifier

  • horticultural: Horticultural fleece, in single, or double or even triple layers works well.

Modifies a noun

  • lining: An optional fleece lining keeps the skin even drier.

Noun used with modifier

  • sherpa: This warm, stylish bed cat bed is made from thermal sherpa fleece fabric with the Danish Design paw print motif.
fleece 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.

fleece quotes

Heureux, qui comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage, Ou comme cestuy la'   qui conquit la toison, Et puis est retourne¤  , plein d'usage et raison, Vivre entre ses parents le reste de son a"  ge! Happy is he who, like Ulysses, has taken a wondrous journey Or has won the Golden Fleece, And then returns home wise and useful To live in his homeland the rest of his days.

-Bellay,Joachim du

Mary had a little lamb, Its fleece was white as snow, And everywhere that Mary went The lamb was sure to go.

-Hale, SarahJosepha ne¤  e Buell

On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble; His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves; The wind it plies the saplings double, And thick on Severn snow the leaves.

-Housman, A(lfred) E(dward)

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

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/fleece>

APA Style

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

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/fleece

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