cloth

[ klawth, kloth ]

/ klɔθ, klɒθ /

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noun, plural cloths

[klawthz, klothz, klawths, kloths]. /klɔðz, klɒðz, klɔθs, klɒθs/.

a fabric formed by weaving, felting, etc., from wool, hair, silk, flax, cotton, or other fiber, used for garments, upholstery, and many other items.

a piece of such a fabric for a particular purpose: an altar cloth.

the particular attire of any profession, especially that of the clergy.Compare man of the cloth.

the cloth, the clergy: men of the cloth.

Nautical.

one of the lengths of canvas or duck of standard width sewn side by side to form a sail, awning, or tarpaulin.
any of various pieces of canvas or duck for reinforcing certain areas of a sail.
a number of sails taken as a whole.

Obsolete. a garment; clothing.

adjective

of or made of cloth: She wore a cloth coat trimmed with fur.

clothbound.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of cloth

before 900; Middle English cloth, clath cloth, garment, Old English clāth; cognate with Dutch kleed,German Kleid

OTHER WORDS FROM cloth

clothlike, adjectiveun·der·cloth, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cloth

cloth , clothe, clothes

Words nearby cloth

Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium tetani, closure, closure principle, clot, cloth, clothbound, cloth-cap, clothe, cloth-eared, clothes

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use cloth in a sentence

When you wear a mask – even a cloth mask – you typically are exposed to a lower dose of the coronavirus than if you didn’t.
Cloth Masks Do Protect The Wearer – Breathing In Less Coronavirus Means You Get Less Sick|LGBTQ-Editor|August 20, 2020|No Straight News
Surgical masks are not as protective as N95s, but they do shield the wearer from droplets and fluids better than the now ubiquitous cloth masks—3% to 25% better, depending on the study.
Unmade in America|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 14, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Although all trainees and staff were required to wear cloth masks, campers were not.
Coronavirus outbreak at camp infected more than 200 kids and staff|Erin Garcia de Jesus|August 4, 2020|Science News For Students
Many cloth masks you can buy today are made of simple cotton, but the World Health Organization recommends that non-medical fabric masks have three layers of fabric, each made of a different material to serve a different protective role.
The WHO’s guide to making more effective reusable masks|Katherine Ellen Foley|July 18, 2020|Quartz

In addition to paper, kirigami can reshape sheets of wood, cloth or metal.
Shape-shifting cuts give shoes a better grip|Carolyn Wilke|July 14, 2020|Science News For Students
Paper and cloth are cheap, what people are paying for is the story.
Glenn Beck Is Now Selling Hipster Clothes. Really.|Ana Marie Cox|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The figure enters the elevator and is then seen quickly leaving the mall, black cloth flapping behind it.
Middle East Murder Mystery: Who Killed an American Teacher in Abu Dhabi?|Chris Allbritton|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Waving a silk cloth, he declared, “Gentlemen, I will have this land just as surely as I now have this handkerchief.”
Washington’s Wheeler-Dealer Patriotism|William O’Connor|October 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
No piece of cloth throughout history has sparked more controversy as the veil.
Saudi Activist Manal Al-Sharif on Why She Removed the Veil|Manal Al Sharif, Advancing Human Rights|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Novelty aside, the real question is whether these avowedly chaste men of the cloth are listening.
The Vatican's Same-Sex Synod: The Bishops Hear About Reality. Do They Listen?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He thrust the Cardinal's mantle into it, and stood over the smouldering cloth, till the whole was consumed to ashes.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Her eyes were not nearly as soft as they had been, while she picked up the hanging folds of pink cloth, and went on.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
Great had been her indignation at the want of respect shown to the Reverend John Dodd's cloth.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Ramona had covered the box with white cloth, and the lace altar-cloth thrown over it fell in folds to the floor.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Instead of a cloth, on each table was a sheet of fine glazed paper which had the appearance of oiled silk.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike

British Dictionary definitions for cloth

cloth

/ (klɒθ) /

noun plural cloths (klɒθs, klɒðz)

a fabric formed by weaving, felting or knitting wool, cotton, etc
(as modifier)a cloth bag

a piece of such fabric used for a particular purpose, as for a dishcloth

the cloth

the clothes worn by a clergyman
the clergy

obsolete clothing

nautical any of the panels of a sail

mainly British a piece of coloured fabric, used on the stage as scenery

Western African a garment in a traditional non-European style

Word Origin for cloth

Old English clāth; related to Old Frisian klēth, Middle High German kleit cloth, clothing

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with cloth

cloth

see out of whole cloth; sackcloth and ashes.

cloth

Origin of cloth

OTHER WORDS FROM cloth

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH cloth

Words nearby cloth

Words related to cloth

How to use cloth in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cloth

Word Origin for cloth

Other Idioms and Phrases with cloth