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  • moire
    moire
    noun
    any moiré fabric.
  • moiré
    moiré
    adjective
    (of silks and other fabrics) presenting a watery or wavelike appearance.

moire

1 American  
[mwahr, mawr, mohr] / mwɑr, mɔr, moʊr /

noun

  1. any moiré fabric.


moiré 2 American  
[mwah-rey, mawr-ey, mohr-ey, mwa-rey] / mwɑˈreɪ, ˈmɔr eɪ, ˈmoʊr eɪ, mwaˈreɪ /

adjective

  1. (of silks and other fabrics) presenting a watery or wavelike appearance.


noun

  1. a design pressed on silk, rayon, etc., by engraved rollers.

  2. any silk, rayon, etc., fabric with a watery or wavelike appearance.

  3. Printing. an interference pattern of dots appearing in the print of process color.

moiré 1 British  
/ ˈmwɑːreɪ /

adjective

  1. having a watered or wavelike pattern

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. such a pattern, impressed on fabrics by means of engraved rollers

  2. any fabric having such a pattern; moire

  3. Also: moiré pattern.  a pattern seen when two geometrical patterns, such as grids, are visually superimposed

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
moire 2 British  
/ mwɑː /

noun

  1. a fabric, usually silk, having a watered effect

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of moire1

1650–60; < French < English mohair

Origin of moiré2

From French, dating back to 1810–20; see origin at moire, -ee

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When the twist angle becomes smaller, the moiré wavelength increases.

From Science Daily • Mar. 2, 2026

Another of them, rendered almost invisibly in shellac on deep cobalt blue moiré, circles around to give the exhibition its trenchant title: “Now then, as I was about to say …”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2024

But the human stain is not without a comic essence, too, which Ruscha drew out in a wonderful group of word-paintings on shiny moiré fabric.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2024

It was reimagined for the modern era, standing out with its sculptural construction and luxurious moiré fabric.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 22, 2024

Accordingly, she picked out a lavender moiré silk, trimmed with soft white lace at the throat and wrist.

From Patty at Home by Wells, Carolyn

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