texture

[ teks-cher ]

noun

1. the visual and especially tactile quality of a surface:

   rough texture.

2. the characteristic structure of the interwoven or intertwined threads, strands, or the like, that make up a textile fabric:

   coarse texture.

3. the characteristic physical structure given to a material, an object, etc., by the size, shape, arrangement, and proportions of its parts:

   soil of a sandy texture; a cake with a heavy texture.

4. an essential or characteristic quality; essence.
5. Fine Arts.
   1. the characteristic visual and tactile quality of the surface of a work of art resulting from the way in which the materials are used.
   2. the imitation of the tactile quality of represented objects.
6. the quality given, as to a musical or literary work, by the combination or interrelation of parts or elements.
7. a rough or grainy surface quality.
8. anything produced by weaving; woven fabric.

verb (used with object)

, tex·tured, tex·tur·ing.

1. to give texture or a particular texture to.
2. to make by or as if by weaving.

texture

/ ˈtɛkstʃə /

noun

1. the surface of a material, esp as perceived by the sense of touch

   a wall with a rough texture

2. the structure, appearance, and feel of a woven fabric
3. the general structure and disposition of the constituent parts of something

   the texture of a cake

4. the distinctive character or quality of something

   the texture of life in America

5. the nature of a surface other than smooth

   woollen cloth has plenty of texture

6. art the representation of the nature of a surface

   the painter caught the grainy texture of the sand

7. 1. music considered as the interrelationship between the horizontally presented aspects of melody and rhythm and the vertically represented aspect of harmony

      a contrapuntal texture

   2. the nature and quality of the instrumentation of a passage, piece, etc

verb

1. tr to give a distinctive usually rough or grainy texture to

texture

/ tĕks′chər /

1. The general physical appearance of a rock, especially with respect to the size, shape, size variability, and geometric arrangement of its mineral crystals (for igneous and metamorphic rocks) and of its constituent elements (for sedimentary rocks). A sandstone that forms as part of an eolian (wind-blown) deposit, for example, has a texture that reflects its small, rounded sand grains of uniform size, while a sandstone that formed as part of a fluvial deposit has a texture reflecting the presence of grains of varying sizes, with some more rounded than others.

Derived Forms

• ˈtextural, adjective
• ˈtextureless, adjective
• ˈtexturally, adverb

Other Words From

• textur·al adjective
• textur·al·ly adverb
• texture·less adjective
• non·textur·al adjective
• non·textur·al·ly adverb
• re·texture verb (used with object) retextured retexturing
• semi·textur·al adjective
• semi·textur·al·ly adverb
• un·textur·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of texture¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin textūra web, equivalent to text ( us ) (past participle of texere to weave) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of texture¹

C15: from Latin textūra web, from texere to weave

Example Sentences

Ms Chola poses in clothes that are a mix of vibrant colours, textures and styles.

From BBC

Interestingly enough, Hill-Maini discovered many of these inedible items could be transformed into something with appetizing colors, textures, and flavors.

From Salon

The textures and the velvet and sequins of the time never went away.

From Los Angeles Times

We listened in rapt, reverential awe, cozied by Vienna’s velvet strings, velvet winds and velvet brass woven together in a perfect tapestry of lush sonic textures and instrumental colors.

From Los Angeles Times

Puree for a smooth soup or leave some texture:

From Salon

Related Words

• balance
• character
• composition
• consistency
• fabric
• feeling
• makeup
• nature
• pattern
• quality
• sense
• smoothness
• structure
• surface
• taste
• touch