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 .

Example Sentences

Even though it’s thick, it is threaded with a type of yarn that helps your foot stay cool on the trail.

From Los Angeles Times

I wondered, if I threw a giant ball of yarn, would it chase it like a smaller kitty cat?

From Los Angeles Times

Shopping for yarn to crochet hats for friends and family, Kathleen Clark said she sees both political camps as misguided in thinking any president can change economic conditions in the short term.

From Los Angeles Times

DNA is neatly and consistently folded up in healthy cells, almost like a rolled-up ball of yarn, but DNA in cancer cells is more disorganized.

From Science Daily

Knitting transforms one-dimensional yarn into two-dimensional fabrics that are flexible, durable, and highly customizable in shape and elasticity.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• fleece
• thread
• wool