floss

[ flaws, flos ]

noun

1. the cottony fiber yielded by the silk-cotton tree.
2. silk filaments with little or no twist, used in weaving as brocade or in embroidery.
3. any silky, filamentous matter, as the silk of corn.
4. dental floss.

verb (used without object)

1. to use dental floss on the teeth.

verb (used with object)

1. to clean (the teeth) with dental floss.

floss

/ flɒs /

noun

1. the mass of fine silky fibres obtained from cotton and similar plants
2. any similar fine silky material, such as the hairlike styles and stigmas of maize or the fibres prepared from silkworm cocoons
3. untwisted silk thread used in embroidery, etc
4. See dental floss

verb

1. tr to clean (between one's teeth) with dental floss

Other Words From

• flosser noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of floss¹

1750–60; probably < French floche, as in soie floche floss silk, Old French flosche down, velvet pile (of uncertain origin)

Word History and Origins

Origin of floss¹

C18: perhaps from Old French flosche down

Example Sentences

Children are being targeted with colours, branding and flavours such as bubble gum or candy floss, it says, to push a product that can lead to nicotine addiction.

From BBC

It’s not as if I haven’t tried to stay on top of things — I walk, swim, ride a bike, brush and floss and eat reasonably, at least some of the time.

From Los Angeles Times

At Beatrice’s throat, hung from a length of dental floss, was a single pearl—one from Camilla’s necklace that had escaped being restrung.

From Literature

The pollutants, which repel water, oil and grease, are used in hundreds of everyday products from dental floss to cookware to firefighting foams.

From BBC

One of his favorite specimens to send fellow arborists out to is the towering silk floss in back of Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery on Sawtelle.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cord
• cotton
• fiber
• filament
• hair
• ribbon
• strand
• string
• wire
• wool
• yarn