gauze

American  

[gawz] / gɔz /

noun

1. any thin and often transparent fabric made from any fiber in a plain or open weave.

2. a surgical dressing of loosely woven cotton.

3. any material made of an open, meshlike weave, as of wire.

4. a thin haze.

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gauze British  

/ ɡɔːz /

noun

1. 1. a transparent cloth of loose plain or leno weave

   2. ( as modifier )

      a gauze veil

2. a surgical dressing of muslin or similar material

3. any thin openwork material, such as wire

4. a fine mist or haze

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Other Word Forms

• gauzelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of gauze

First recorded in 1555–65; from French gaze; ultimate origin unknown

Example Sentences

Her upper body rotates over the chair back and she gently pulls up one of her transparent gauze sleeves as if preparing for a pleasant conversation with us, her audience.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

Staff at Nasser and other hospitals in Gaza told the BBC the blockade meant they were running short on basic supplies like painkillers and gauze, and had to shut down some services.

From BBC • May 16, 2025

Luckily, as with any trending consumer good these days, see-through clothing comes in every price point and quality tier, from $36 polyester-blend cargo joggers to $419 gauze pants in 100 percent silk.

From Slate • Dec. 14, 2024

At Mississippi State, he once broke his nose in a game against Alabama, only to stuff gauze in both nostrils and return to convert a third down.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024

Because she was heavily sedated, Pita slept through the lancing and compressing and didn’t come back around until Abuelita Remedios was done wrapping her leg with a pale thin gauze.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• dressing
• plaster