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

With a rugged exterior as if it were washed on the salty shores of Venice Beach, this hoodie boasts a fluffy terry lining to caress those new tan lines.

From Los Angeles Times

I feel suffocated and claustrophobic, and my heart rate accelerates as the terry cloth towers batter my car from all sides, and I experience my deepest fear: a loss of control.

From Salon

They must be a thick absorbent cotton but never terry.

From Los Angeles Times

Wait for the residue to soften, maybe five to 10 minutes, then wipe it up with a terry cloth or other rough-textured rag.

From Washington Post

On one side, they have a flat weave that dries delicate dishes well; the other side features terry cloth.

From Washington Post