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

Hundreds of mourners walked with coffins draped in colourful cloth into the compound of the Arerti Mariam church while clerics conducted burial rituals.

From BBC

England may have a landslide of money behind them, but Canada have cut their cloth with care and cunning.

From BBC

“Remember, this might be a little $10 worth of cloth,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

She also points out her extensive African section, which features heavy, hand-beaded neckpieces and Kente cloth dresses — some of which were worn in “Black Panther.”

From Los Angeles Times

Bagpuss, the saggy old cloth cat who starred in one of Britain's best-loved children's TV shows, is set to appear in a new film that will see him awaken in the present day.

From BBC

Related Words

• cotton 
• goods 
• material 
• stuff