cloth

[klawth, kloth]

noun

plural

cloths 

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

2. a piece of such a fabric for a particular purpose.

   an altar cloth.

3. the particular attire of any profession, especially that of the clergy.

4. the cloth, the clergy.

   men of the cloth.

5. Nautical.

   1. one of the lengths of canvas or duck of standard width sewn side by side to form a sail, awning, or tarpaulin.

   2. any of various pieces of canvas or duck for reinforcing certain areas of a sail.

   3. a number of sails taken as a whole.

6. Obsolete.,  a garment; clothing.

adjective

1. of or made of cloth.

   She wore a cloth coat trimmed with fur.

2. clothbound.

cloth

/ klɒθ /

noun

1. 1. a fabric formed by weaving, felting or knitting wool, cotton, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cloth bag

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

3. 1. the clothes worn by a clergyman

   2. the clergy

4. obsolete,  clothing

5. nautical any of the panels of a sail

6. a piece of coloured fabric, used on the stage as scenery

7. a garment in a traditional non-European style

Other Word Forms

• clothlike adjective
• undercloth noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloth¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cloth¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see out of whole cloth; sackcloth and ashes.

Example Sentences

It already has more than enough politicians cut from the same cloth.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He almost lands with a perfect ten, but a child grabs Woo from the air and starts dressing him up with spare cloths and fabrics.

Read more on Literature

Mrs. Clarke began folding the basket of cloth diapers and comically miniature baby clothes she had brought to fill the dresser drawers.

Read more on Literature

A strip of black cloth was tied around his mouth.

Read more on Literature

In a later video taken from the same scene we see the body covered in a cloth and carried towards a group of policemen standing by the university building.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cotton 
• goods 
• material 
• stuff