linen

[ lin-uhn ]

noun

1. fabric woven from flax yarns.
2. Often linens. bedding, tablecloths, shirts, etc., made of linen cloth or a more common substitute, as cotton.
3. yarn made of flax fiber.
4. thread made of flax yarns.

adjective

1. made of linen:

   a linen jacket.

linen

/ ˈlɪnɪn /

noun

1. 1. a hard-wearing fabric woven from the spun fibres of flax
   2. ( as modifier )

      a linen tablecloth

2. yarn or thread spun from flax fibre
3. clothes, sheets, tablecloths, etc, made from linen cloth or from a substitute such as cotton
4. See linen paper

Other Words From

• linen·y adjective
• half-linen adjective
• under·linen noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of linen¹

before 900; Middle English lin ( n ) en (noun, adj.), Old English linnen, līnen (adj.) made of flax, equivalent to līn flax (< Latin līnum; line ² ) + -en -en ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of linen¹

Old English linnen, ultimately from Latin līnum flax, line ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. wash one's dirty linen in public, to discuss in public one's private scandals, disagreements, or difficulties.

More idioms and phrases containing linen

see wash one's dirty linen in public .

Example Sentences

She grew up wrapping damp greens in linen tea towels to keep them crisp but was frustrated when her salad makings fell out of the towels.

From Los Angeles Times

Then she added a zipper to one of her linen towels, and Ambrosia Produce Bags was born.

From Los Angeles Times

These handy, reusable linen bags are designed to keep veggies and leafy greens crisp for longer and to prevent them from dissolving into brownish-green smears of goo in a plastic bag.

From Los Angeles Times

Rem uses a heavier-weight linen to keep berries firm and mushrooms from turning to slime.

From Los Angeles Times

Apart from designing clothes in his own label, Bal lent his name to endorse products from shoes to linen, had tie-ups with textile giants like the Aditya Birla Group and even ventured into designing jewellery and luxury watches.

From BBC

Related Words

• bedding
• cloth
• lingerie