gauze

[ gawz ]

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.

gauze

/ 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

Other Words From

• gauze·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gauze¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gauze¹

C16: from French gaze, perhaps from Gaza , where it was believed to originate

Example Sentences

Patient wounds routinely crawling with maggots because health care facilities have no access to soap, gauze, disinfectant and running water.

From Salon

When Ms Guy arrived she was shown into the salon where she said there “was blood splatter up the walls” and “gauze swabs lying around that had still got blood on from the previous person”.

From BBC

When he appeared just 48 hours later at his party's convention in Milwaukee with gauze over his ear, some in the crowd were weeping.

From BBC

“We are also facing critical shortages of basic medical supplies such as gauze, iodine, alcohol swabs, and chlorhexidine for wound care. These essentials are crucial for preventing infection and promoting healing, but we are forced to ration what little we have,” Dr. S. said.

From Salon

“They could have treated him much better than they did, but they just put some gauze on him, as if they did a quick, careless job. Whether he lived or died didn’t seem to matter to them,” he says.

From BBC

Related Words

• bewilderment
• perplexity