linen

American  

[lin-uhn] / ˈlɪn ən /

noun

linens plural

1. fabric woven from flax yarns.

2. Often linens. bedding, tablecloths, shirts, etc., made of linen cloth or a more common substitute, as cotton.

3. yarn made of flax fiber.

4. thread made of flax yarns.

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adjective

1. made of linen.

   a linen jacket.

idioms

1. wash one's dirty linen in public, to discuss in public one's private scandals, disagreements, or difficulties.

linen British  

/ ˈlɪnɪn /

noun

1. 1. a hard-wearing fabric woven from the spun fibres of flax

   2. ( as modifier )

      a linen tablecloth

2. yarn or thread spun from flax fibre

3. clothes, sheets, tablecloths, etc, made from linen cloth or from a substitute such as cotton

4. See linen paper

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linen More Idioms  

1. see wash one's dirty linen in public.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underlinen
  noun
• half-linen
  adjective
• lineny
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• linens
  plural

Etymology

Origin of linen

before 900; Middle English lin ( n ) en (noun, adj.), Old English linnen, līnen (adj.) made of flax, equivalent to līn flax (< Latin līnum; see line ²) + -en -en ²

Explanation

Linen is a type of fabric that's sturdy, cool, and absorbent. If you're going to a summer wedding, you should consider wearing a white linen suit. If you're going on a job interview, it's probably not such a great idea. Linen is frequently used in summery dresses and shirts, curtains, bags, pillowcases and sheets, towels. and tablecloths. It's heavy and substantial but stays breathable and fresh when you wear it on a hot day. Linens is sometimes used to mean "bedding or towels," or the things you'd keep in a linen closet. Linen comes from the Old English word linin, "made of flax," from lin, "flax fibers or linen thread."

Example Sentences

Delaware County Linen is a linen-rental and laundry services company that has been in business since 1988, according to its website.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

In subsequent posts on X, Mr. Piringer noted no injuries occurred but that significant structural damage hit Soto-Leeson Linen & Laundry Services and Motor Works.

From Washington Times • Nov. 2, 2023

Linen and clothing weren’t readily available and dead roaches were found in some rooms, according to the officials.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2023

Linen sheets are also gaining in popularity, Sachs says.

From Washington Post • Jan. 18, 2023

Linen in hand, the rusalka smiled at Anya, fluttering her long eyelashes as she did.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• bedding
• cloth
• lingerie