yarn

[ yahrn ]

noun

1. thread made of natural or synthetic fibers and used for knitting and weaving.
2. a continuous strand or thread made from glass, metal, plastic, etc.
3. the thread, in the form of a loosely twisted aggregate of fibers, as of hemp, of which rope is made rope yarn.
4. a tale, especially a long story of adventure or incredible happenings:

   He spun a yarn that outdid any I had ever heard.

verb (used without object)

1. Informal. to spin a yarn; tell stories.

yarn

/ jɑːn /

noun

1. a continuous twisted strand of natural or synthetic fibres, used in weaving, knitting, etc
2. informal.
   a long and often involved story or account, usually telling of incredible or fantastic events
3. spin a yarn informal.
   1. to tell such a story
   2. to make up or relate a series of excuses

verb

1. intr to tell such a story or stories

Word History and Origins

Origin of yarn¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English gearn; cognate with German Garn; akin to Old Norse gǫrn gut, Greek chordḗ intestine, chord ¹, Lithuanian žarnà entrails, Latin hernia a rupture, Sanskrit hirā vein

Word History and Origins

Origin of yarn¹

Old English gearn; related to Old High German garn yarn, Old Norse görn gut, Greek khordē string, gut

Idioms and Phrases

see spin a yarn .

Related Words

• fleece
• thread
• wool