-
jute
jutenouna strong, coarse fiber used for making burlap, gunny, cordage, etc., obtained from two East Indian plants, Corchorus capsularis and C. olitorius, of the linden family.
-
Jute
Jutenouna member of a continental Germanic tribe, probably from Jutland, that invaded Britain in the 5th century a.d. and settled in Kent.
jute
1 Americannoun
-
a strong, coarse fiber used for making burlap, gunny, cordage, etc., obtained from two East Indian plants, Corchorus capsularis and C. olitorius, of the linden family.
-
either of these plants.
-
any plant of the same genus.
noun
noun
-
either of two Old World tropical yellow-flowered herbaceous plants, Corchorus capsularis or C. olitorius, cultivated for their strong fibre: family Tiliaceae
-
this fibre, used in making sacks, rope, etc
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of jute
First recorded in 1740–50, jute is from the Bengali word jhuṭo
Explanation
Jute is a very long fiber that comes from a plant and is used to make rugs, ropes, and other things. Jute twine feels coarse and rough, and is very strong. Jute is useful because of its length and cheapness — it provides an easy way to make an inexpensive sack or floor mat. If you've ever planted a small tree, you've probably uncovered its roots from their jute wrapping first, and if you've bought a five-pound bag of rice or sugar, it most likely came in a rough jute bag. Jute comes from the Bengali word jhuto, from the Sanskrit root juta-s, "twisted hair."
Vocabulary lists containing jute
The Bridge Home
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for October 8–October 14, 2022
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine," Vocabulary from the short story
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Jute is more durable than cotton, needs fewer resources for its cultivation and has a shorter growing time.
From New York Times • Oct. 10, 2022
Jute bales — compressed rock-hard to save space on shipment from India — weigh 400 pounds.
From Washington Post • Sep. 30, 2022
Angle, Saxon, and Jute tribes from what is today northwestern Germany and southern Denmark “came over into the island, and they began to increase so much, that they became terrible to the natives.”
From Science Magazine • Sep. 21, 2022
Jute mesh, coir logs, and forty-two thousand shrubs help to keep the horticultural soil in place—“the belt and suspenders” of the operation, according to Ellen Cavanagh, the director of planning for the trust.
From The New Yorker • May 16, 2016
Jute farms and dairy farms have something in common.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
![]()
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.