wool

[wool]

noun

1. the fine, soft, curly hair that forms the fleece of sheep and certain other animals, characterized by minute, overlapping surface scales that give it its felting property.

2. fabrics and garments of such wool.

3. yarn made of such wool.

4. any of various substances used commercially as substitutes for the wool of sheep or other animals.

5. any of certain vegetable fibers, as cotton or flax, used as wool, especially after preparation by special process vegetable wool.

6. any finely fibrous or filamentous matter suggestive of the wool of sheep.

   glass wool; steel wool.

7. any coating of short, fine hairs or hairlike processes, as on a caterpillar or a plant; pubescence.

8. Informal.,  the human hair, especially when short, thick, and crisp.

wool

/ wʊl /

noun

1. the outer coat of sheep, yaks, etc, which consists of short curly hairs

2. yarn spun from the coat of sheep, etc, used in weaving, knitting, etc

3. 1. cloth or a garment made from this yarn

   2. ( as modifier )

      a wool dress

4. any of certain fibrous materials

   glass wool

   steel wool

5. informal,  short thick curly hair

6. a tangled mass of soft fine hairs that occurs in certain plants

7. confirmed in one's beliefs or opinions

8. to deceive or delude someone

Other Word Forms

• woollike adjective
• nonwool adjective
• wool-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wool¹

before 900; Middle English wolle, Old English wull ( e ), cognate with Dutch wol, German Wolle, Old Norse ull, Gothic wulla; akin to Latin lāna, Sanskrit ūrṇā, Welsh gwlân wool, Latin vellus fleece, Greek oúlos woolly

Word History and Origins

Origin of wool¹

Old English wull; related to Old Frisian, Middle Dutch wulle, Old High German wolla (German Wolle ), Old Norse ull, Latin lāna and vellus fleece

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. dyed in the wool, inveterate; confirmed.

   a dyed in the wool sinner.

2. pull the wool over someone's eyes, to deceive or delude someone.

   The boy thought that by hiding the broken dish he could pull the wool over his mother's eyes.

3. all wool and a yard wide, genuine; excellent; sincere.

   He was a real friend, all wool and a yard wide.

see all wool and a yard wide; pull the wool over someone's eyes.

Example Sentences

Maintenance is straightforward: The pan is dishwasher safe, metal utensil-friendly and can handle steel wool.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Our critic explained that “While ‘superfine’ is a tailor’s term for the best wool suiting fabric, in the context of this show it is also dandiacal black vernacular for ‘stylin’ out.’”

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When Elordi’s Creature pleads for a companion, a sliver of sculpted abs peeking out from under five hulking layers of wool and fur, you expect half the audience’s hands to shoot up and volunteer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Merino wool, especially, has made a comeback as a fabric for athletic activity, with its natural moisture-wicking ability.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And it requires the right clothes — mufflers, fur collars, wool caps, big boots, gloves — which communicate coziness even as they underscore the cold.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cashmere 
• fleece 
• fur 
• hair 
• mohair 
• tweed 
• yarn