ikat
Americannoun
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a method of printing woven fabric by tie-dyeing the warp yarns warp ikat, the weft yarns weft ikat, or both double ikat before weaving.
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a fabric made by this method.
noun
Etymology
Origin of ikat
1930–35; < Malay: to tie, bind
Explanation
Ikat is a method of weaving that uses tie-dyed thread. The colorful patterns of ikat cloth have a distinctive blurry look. The blurriness of most ikat patterns comes from the fact that they're woven using pre-dyed, multi-colored yarn, making the patterns imprecise. Before a weaver starts the painstaking process, bundles of ikat threads are wrapped and dyed, with the process often being repeated several times. It's similar to batik or tie-dying, but the individual fibers are resistance-dyed rather than an entire piece of fabric. In Indonesian, ikat means "to bind."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Expect 153 guestrooms and a signature restaurant by American chef Andrew Carmellini, along with the eclectic interiors of kaleidoscopic Murano glass chandeliers, peppy ikat fabrics and whimsical wall coverings by famed Martin Brudnizki Design Studio.
From National Geographic • Apr. 18, 2023
To hold ikat napkins in place, he made napkin rings from glitter-covered pine cones and ribbon.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2022
He bought his first ikat for $700 after seeing it hanging in a gallery window on Madison Avenue in 1975, and went on to acquire hundreds more.
From Washington Post • Dec. 10, 2020
A former Glamour editor and the cofounder/CEO of Nameberry, a popular baby name website, Redmond is the picture of pandemic chic in her crisp navy caftan, her blue eyes dancing above an ikat mask.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 8, 2020
The servants’ houses have atap walls covered with samir or kajang matting— Rumah orang gaji itu dinding-nia ikat atap apit samir atau kajang.
From A Manual of the Malay language With an Introductory Sketch of the Sanskrit Element in Malay by Maxwell, William Edward, Sir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
