ciré

[ si-rey ]

noun

1. a brilliant, highly glazed surface produced on fabrics by subjecting them to a wax, heat, and calendering treatment.
2. a double fabric having such a finish.

ciré

/ ˈsɪəreɪ /

adjective

1. (of fabric) treated with a heat or wax process to make it smooth

noun

1. such a surface on a fabric
2. a fabric having such a surface

Word History and Origins

Origin of ciré¹

1920–25; < French < Latin cērātus waxed, equivalent to cēr ( a ) wax ( cere ² ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of ciré¹

C20: French, from cirer to wax, from cire, from Latin cēra wax

Example Sentences

Very businesslike are the shoeblacks of Algiers; they dont mind what they cire as long as they cire something.

From Project Gutenberg

The French text begins thus: Pour trois livres de cire et de plomb pour faire les patrons que maitre Colman, armoyeur, a fait, &c.

From Project Gutenberg