cloth

[ klawth, kloth ]

noun

, plural cloths [klaw, th, z, klo, th, z, klawths, kloths].

1. a fabric formed by weaving, felting, etc., from wool, hair, silk, flax, cotton, or other fiber, used for garments, upholstery, and many other items.
2. a piece of such a fabric for a particular purpose:

   an altar cloth.

3. the particular attire of any profession, especially that of the clergy. Compare man of the cloth.
4. the cloth, the clergy:

   men of the cloth.

5. Nautical.
   1. one of the lengths of canvas or duck of standard width sewn side by side to form a sail, awning, or tarpaulin.
   2. any of various pieces of canvas or duck for reinforcing certain areas of a sail.
   3. a number of sails taken as a whole.
6. Obsolete. a garment; clothing.

adjective

1. of or made of cloth:

   She wore a cloth coat trimmed with fur.

2. clothbound.

cloth

/ klɒθ /

noun

1. 1. a fabric formed by weaving, felting or knitting wool, cotton, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cloth bag

2. a piece of such fabric used for a particular purpose, as for a dishcloth
3. the cloth
   1. the clothes worn by a clergyman
   2. the clergy
4. obsolete.
   clothing
5. nautical any of the panels of a sail
6. a piece of coloured fabric, used on the stage as scenery
7. a garment in a traditional non-European style

Other Words From

• clothlike adjective
• under·cloth noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloth¹

before 900; Middle English cloth, clath cloth, garment, Old English clāth; cognate with Dutch kleed, German Kleid

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloth¹

Old English clāth; related to Old Frisian klēth, Middle High German kleit cloth, clothing

Idioms and Phrases

see out of whole cloth ; sackcloth and ashes .

Example Sentences

Once bound in muslin cloth and sealed with a layer of lard, Hafod is aged for 18 months.

From BBC

He added that Africans were in "constant flight" during the slave trade, so "how can you think, 'I have this house, I have to make the inside fine, let me put that bench, let me weave this cloth'? Our society didn't have the chance to evolve like that."

From BBC

This cloth quarter-bound hardcover book is printed on tactile, uncoated papers, and will be available to purchase at this release event.

From Los Angeles Times

Ipswich's McKenna and Wales' Bellamy 'cut from same cloth'

From BBC

His playbook is cut from Madison Grant’s American-made eugenical cloth.

From Salon

Related Words

• cotton
• goods
• material
• stuff