terry

¹

[ ter-ee ]

noun

, plural ter·ries.

1. the loop formed by the pile of a fabric when left uncut.
2. Also called terry cloth. a pile fabric, usually of cotton, with loops on both sides, as in a Turkish towel.

adjective

1. made of such a fabric:

   a terry bathrobe.

2. having the pile loops uncut:

   terry velvet.

Terry

²

[ ter-ee ]

noun

1. Bill William Harold Terry, 1898–1989, U.S. baseball player and manager: Baseball Hall of Fame 1954.
2. Clark, 1920–2015, U.S. jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player and singer.
3. Dame Ellen Alice Ellen Terry, 1847–1928, English actress, the leading Shakespearean and comic stage actress of her time.
4. Megan Marguerite Duffy, 1932–2023, U.S. playwright noted for her contributions to avant-garde theater in the 1960s.
5. a male given name, form of Terrence or Theodore.
6. a female given name, form of Teresa or Theresa.

Terry

¹

/ ˈtɛrɪ /

noun

1. TerryEllen, Dame18471928FBritishTHEATRE: actress Dame Ellen. 1847–1928, British actress, noted for her Shakespearean roles opposite Sir Henry Irving and for her correspondence with George Bernard Shaw
2. Terry(John) Quinlan1937MBritishARCHITECTURE: architect ( John ) Quinlan (ˈkwɪnlən). born 1937, British architect, noted for his works in neoclassical style, such as the Richmond riverside project (1984)

terry

²

/ ˈtɛrɪ /

noun

1. an uncut loop in the pile of towelling or a similar fabric
2. 1. a fabric with such a pile on both sides
   2. ( as modifier )

      a terry towel

Word History and Origins

Origin of terry¹

First recorded in 1775–85; perhaps variant of terret

Word History and Origins

Origin of terry¹

C18: perhaps variant of terret

Example Sentences

He also played with Billie Holiday at 14, and got taken under the wings of bandleader Count Basie and trumpeter Clark Terry.

From BBC

Don Turner, 78, and his wife, Terry, 74, had not been seen since heavy downpours struck Valencia on Tuesday.

From BBC

Ruth O'Loughlin said she spoke to father Don Turner, 78, and mother Terry, 74, on Monday but neighbours and friends have not seen them since the flash flooding and torrential rain struck.

From BBC

Terry Rosoman, 39, from south Wales, is raising funds and awareness for men's mental health, admitting that the shape has been designed to get people's attention.

From BBC

Terry Tang, the executive editor, directs the newsroom that produces The Times’ news pages.

From Los Angeles Times