linen

American  

[lin-uhn] / ˈlɪn ən /

noun

• linens
  plural

1. fabric woven from flax yarns.

2. Often linens. bedding, tablecloths, shirts, etc., made of linen cloth or a more common substitute, as cotton.

3. yarn made of flax fiber.

4. thread made of flax yarns.

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adjective

1. made of linen.

   a linen jacket.

idioms

1. wash one's dirty linen in public, to discuss in public one's private scandals, disagreements, or difficulties.

linen British  

/ ˈlɪnɪn /

noun

1. 1. a hard-wearing fabric woven from the spun fibres of flax

   2. ( as modifier )

      a linen tablecloth

2. yarn or thread spun from flax fibre

3. clothes, sheets, tablecloths, etc, made from linen cloth or from a substitute such as cotton

4. See linen paper

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linen More Idioms  

1. see wash one's dirty linen in public.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underlinen
  noun
• half-linen
  adjective
• lineny
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• linens
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of linen

before 900; Middle English lin ( n ) en (noun, adj.), Old English linnen, līnen (adj.) made of flax, equivalent to līn flax (< Latin līnum; see line ²) + -en -en ²

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Explanation

Linen is a type of fabric that's sturdy, cool, and absorbent. If you're going to a summer wedding, you should consider wearing a white linen suit. If you're going on a job interview, it's probably not such a great idea. Linen is frequently used in summery dresses and shirts, curtains, bags, pillowcases and sheets, towels. and tablecloths. It's heavy and substantial but stays breathable and fresh when you wear it on a hot day. Linens is sometimes used to mean "bedding or towels," or the things you'd keep in a linen closet. Linen comes from the Old English word linin, "made of flax," from lin, "flax fibers or linen thread."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

linen linens

Last year her trademark was registered in more than a dozen product categories in Australia, including cookware and table linen.

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

She likes giving dish towels made of fine European linen, which she often gets at Clic, the French homewares boutique with locations in California, New York City, the Hamptons and St. Barts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

She’s in a vintage black linen skirt, with a top that’s also vintage black linen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Digital disaffection has bled into our lives like dye onto white linen, creeping through every inch of the fabric until it’s covered in amorphous patterns of color; some beautiful, some painfully ugly.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

Each was wrapped in a clean linen napkin.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

When I pay a cleaning fee, I expect someone to handle the work of preparing a property for its next occupants: washing linens, scrubbing bathrooms, cleaning floors.

From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026

Inside, Portuguese tile, raffia and colorful linens fill airy living spaces that open onto private pools.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Tables were dressed in green linens and had seasonal spring bouquets featuring butterfly ranunculus, phlox, and lily of the valley.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026

The result is a surprisingly cohesive look with jute rugs, light woods and striped linens creating a relaxed California coastal vibe with touches of Palm Springs and France.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2026

I left the chicken over the fire too long because Madam ordered the silver polished and the table linens ironed in honor of her guests.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

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Related Words

• bedding
• cloth
• lingerie

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