batik

American  

[buh-teek, bat-ik] / bəˈtik, ˈbæt ɪk /

Or battik

noun

1. a technique of hand-dyeing fabrics by using wax as a dye repellent to cover parts of a design, dyeing the uncovered fabric with a color or colors, and dissolving the wax in boiling water.

2. the fabric so decorated.

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verb (used with object)

1. to hand-dye (material) using the technique of batik.

batik British  

/ ˈbætɪk /

noun

1. 1. a process of printing fabric in which parts not to be dyed are covered by wax

   2. fabric printed in this way

   3. ( as modifier )

      a batik shirt

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Etymology

Origin of batik

First recorded in 1875–80, batik is from the Javanese word baṭik

Explanation

Batik is cloth that's decorated using wax and dye. The patterns created using the batik technique are often elaborate and multicolored. Batik comes from the Javanese bathik and roots meaning "to write" and "dot." Like tie dye, batik is a resist dying technique — both methods create areas of the fabric that are impervious to dye. Batik patterns are often more intricate because an artist draws or writes on cloth using hot wax, leaving those precise lines and dots undyed. The process can be repeated with new patterns and additional dye colors, resulting in beautifully decorated fabric.

Example Sentences

The programme includes talks and demonstrations of craft techniques as well as cultural performances - noted dancer Purnima Ghosh performed at one of the sessions dressed in a hand-painted Batik sari.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2025

Malaysia Airlines, low-cost carrier AirAsia and Batik Air announced discounts and special fares to help MyAirline passengers impacted by the suspension.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 11, 2023

Batik, she learned, was being produced in the 13th century, when the Hindu-Buddhist Majapahit empire ruled an oceanic kingdom from Java, dispatching boats as far away as Madagascar.

From New York Times • Jun. 30, 2023

Batik gallery owner Iiting Budiarti agreed, saying items with natural dyes can fetch double or triple the synthetic ones.

From Reuters • Nov. 17, 2021

There was a young man from Art Creek Who went around dressed in Batik.

From The So-called Human Race by Taylor, Bert Leston