chiffon
Americannoun
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a sheer fabric of silk, nylon, or rayon in plain weave.
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any women's dress ornament, as ribbon or lace.
adjective
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(of dresses, scarves, etc.) resembling or made of chiffon.
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(in cooking) having a light, frothy texture, as certain pies and cakes containing beaten egg whites.
noun
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a fine transparent or almost transparent plain-weave fabric of silk, nylon, etc
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rare (often plural) feminine finery
adjective
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made of chiffon
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(of soufflés, pies, cakes, etc) having a very light fluffy texture
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chiffon
1755–65; < French, equivalent to chiffe rag (< Arabic shiff sheer fabric) + -on noun suffix
Explanation
Chiffon is a fabric that’s light and silky. You have probably seen a slip or a dress made out of chiffon. Chiffon is made of silk, nylon, or rayon. It is airy and sheer and is therefore used in making lingerie and some types of dresses and blouses. If you want a rough, tough fabric, chiffon isn’t the way to go. Chiffon is flimsy, pretty, and lightweight. Ironically, it comes from a French word for a rag, which would be an insult to a nice chiffon dress.
Vocabulary lists containing chiffon
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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.
I will refrain from stating exactly how long it had been since I, personally, had made a Cranberry Chiffon Pie before this past Thanksgiving — but I was not concerned, not in the least.
From Salon • Dec. 19, 2024
Chiffon capes gave diaphanous elegance to belted shorts.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2023
Set up in 1991, Operation Chiffon worked as a secret back channel of communication between the leaders of the IRA and the British government.
From BBC • Mar. 25, 2023
Talley wrote numerous books, including two memoirs, and released “The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir” on May 19, 2020.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2022
“Absolutely. Chiffon cake was created by a California man.”
From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
